How base-derived will be handled in policy swap - Euromod · st January 1993, which is essentially...

EUROMOD COUNTRY REPORT

GREECE (EL)

Chrysa Leventi, Manos Matsaganis, Panos Tsakloglou

28/3/12

EUROMOD Country Report – GREECE

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EUROMOD is a tax-benefit microsimulation model for the European Union (EU) that enables researchers and policy analysts to calculate, in a comparable manner, the effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes and work incentives for the population of each country and for the EU as a whole. EUROMOD has been enlarged to cover 27 Member States and is updated to recent policy systems using data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) as the input database, supported by DG-EMPL of the European Commission.

This report documents the work done in one annual update for Greece. This work was carried out by the EUROMOD core developer team, based mainly in ISER at the University of Essex, in collaboration with a national team.

EUROMOD coordinator: Holly Sutherland EUROMOD coordinator assistant: Lucy Brown EUROMOD developer responsible for Greece: Alari Paulus National team for Greece: Chrysa Leventi, Manos Matsaganis, Panos Tsakloglou

The results presented in this report are derived using EUROMOD version F6.0 EUROMOD is continually being improved and the results presented here may not match those that would be obtained with later versions of EUROMOD.

For more information, see: http://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/research/euromod

This document is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013).

This programme is managed by the Directorate-General for Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities of the European Commission. It was established to finally support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area, as set out in the Social Agenda, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals in these fields.

The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-27, EFTA-EEA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries.

PROGRESS mission is to strengthen the EU contribution in support of Member States’ commitment. PROGRESS is instrumental in providing analysis and policy advice on PROGRESS policy areas; monitoring and reporting on the implementation of EU legislation and policies in PROGRESS policy areas; promoting policy transfer, learning and support among Member States on EU objectives and priorities; and relaying the views of the stakeholders and society at large

For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/progress

The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.

http://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/research/euromod

http://ec.europa.eu/progress


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CONTENTS

ACRONYMS _________________________________________________________________ 6

1. BASIC INFORMATION _____________________________________________________ 7

1.1 Basic figures _______________________________________________________ 7

1.2 The tax-benefit system _______________________________________________ 7

1.2.1 Basic information about the tax-benefit system __________________________________ 8

1.3 Minimum wage _____________________________________________________ 9

1.4 Social Benefits ______________________________________________________ 9 1.4.1 Retirement benefits ______________________________________________________ 10

1.4.2 Unemployment benefits ___________________________________________________ 13

1.4.3 Family benefits _________________________________________________________ 14

1.4.4 Sickness and maternity benefits _____________________________________________ 16

1.4.5 Disability benefits _______________________________________________________ 18

1.4.6 Housing benefits ________________________________________________________ 20 1.4.7 Other benefits __________________________________________________________ 21

1.5 Social contributions ________________________________________________ 25

1.6 Taxes ____________________________________________________________ 27

2. SIMULATION OF TAXES AND BENEFITS IN EUROMOD _________________________ 32

2.1 Scope of simulation _________________________________________________ 32

2.2 Order of simulation and interdependencies _____________________________ 35

2.3 Minimum wage ____________________________________________________ 36

2.4 Social benefits _____________________________________________________ 38 2.4.1 Social pension __________________________________________________________ 38

2.4.2 Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit _________________________________________ 39

2.4.3 3rd child benefit _________________________________________________________ 40

2.4.4 Large family benefit _____________________________________________________ 40 2.4.5 Lump sum €2,000 birth grant ______________________________________________ 41

2.4.6 Income support to families with children in compulsory education _________________ 41

2.4.7 Unemployment assistance for older workers ___________________________________ 42

2.4.8 Unemployment insurance benefit ___________________________________________ 43

2.4.9 Lump-sum heating benefit (only valid in 2009) ________________________________ 45 2.4.10 Lump-sum benefit to civil servants (only valid in 2009) _______________________ 45

2.4.11 Abolishment of 13th and 14th pensions and compensations (valid from 2010) _______ 46

2.4.12 Lump sum benefit to low-paid pensioners (only valid in 2011) __________________ 46

2.5 Social contributions ________________________________________________ 47 2.5.1 Employers _____________________________________________________________ 47

2.5.2 Employees _____________________________________________________________ 48


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2.5.3 Self-employed workers ___________________________________________________ 51

2.5.4 Farmers _______________________________________________________________ 52

2.6 Personal income tax ________________________________________________ 52

2.6.1 Tax unit _______________________________________________________________ 52

2.6.2 Tax schedule ___________________________________________________________ 52 2.6.3 Exemptions ____________________________________________________________ 55

2.6.4 Tax allowances _________________________________________________________ 55

2.6.5 Tax base _______________________________________________________________ 58

2.6.6 Tax credits _____________________________________________________________ 58

2.6.7 Withholding tax on benefits________________________________________________ 59

2.7 Interest income tax _________________________________________________ 60

2.8 Additional tax on rental income ______________________________________ 60

2.9 1% extraordinary contribution _______________________________________ 60

2.10 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution ____________________________________ 61

2.11 Additional pensioners’ solidarity contribution __________________________ 61

2.12 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution for supplementary pensions ____________ 62

2.13 Solidarity contribution ______________________________________________ 62

2.14 Self-employed and liberal professions’ contribution ______________________ 63

3. DATA _________________________________________________________________ 64

3.1 General description_________________________________________________ 64

3.2 Sample quality and weights __________________________________________ 64 3.2.1 Non-response ___________________________________________________________ 64

3.2.2 Weights _______________________________________________________________ 64

3.2.3 Item non-response and under-reporting _______________________________________ 65

3.3 Data adjustment ___________________________________________________ 65

3.4 Imputations and assumptions ________________________________________ 65 3.4.1 Time period ____________________________________________________________ 65

3.4.2 Dropped observations ____________________________________________________ 65

3.4.3 Gross incomes __________________________________________________________ 66

3.4.4 Social contributions ______________________________________________________ 66

3.4.5 Other data issues ________________________________________________________ 67

3.5 Updating _________________________________________________________ 68

4. VALIDATION ___________________________________________________________ 70

4.1 Aggregate Validation _______________________________________________ 70

4.1.1 Validation of incomes inputted into the simulation ______________________________ 71

4.1.2 Validation of outputted (simulated) incomes ___________________________________ 75

4.2 Income distribution_________________________________________________ 82


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4.2.1 Income inequality _______________________________________________________ 83

4.2.2 Poverty rates ___________________________________________________________ 83 4.2.3 Validation of minimum wage ______________________________________________ 85

4.2.4 Validation of modelling annual policies ______________________________________ 86

4.3 Summary of “health warnings” _______________________________________ 86

5. REFERENCES ___________________________________________________________ 87

6. ANNEX ________________________________________________________________ 88

6.1 TEBE social contributions simulated __________________________________ 88

6.2 TAE social contributions simulated ____________________________________ 91

6.3 TΣΑΥ social contributions simulated __________________________________ 93

6.4 ΟΓΑ social contributions simulated ___________________________________ 96

6.5 2005-08 distributions of self-employed contributors ______________________ 97


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ACRONYMS

EΓΣΣΕ National General Collective Labour Agreement

ΕΚΑΣ Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit

ΕΤΕ National Bank of Greece

IKA Private sector workers’ social insurance fund

ΜΤΠΥ Civil servants’ additional benefits fund

ΟΑΕΔ Manpower Employment Organisation

ΟΑΕΕ Own account and self-employed workers’ fund (merger of TEBE, ΤΑΕ, ΤΣΑ)

ΟΓΑ Farmers’ social insurance fund

OEE Workers’ Home Organisation

ΟΕΚ Workers Housing Organisation

ΟΠΑΔ Civil servants’ sickness insurance fund

ΤΑΕ Self-employed workers’ fund

ΤΑΠ-ΟΤΕ Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation’s fund

ΤΕΑΔΥ Civil servants’supplementary pension fund

ΤΕΒΕ Own account workers’ fund, except for the “liberal professions” such as lawyers, engineers, doctors

ΤΠΔΥ Civil servants’ fund

ΤΣΑ Self-employed workers’ fund

ΤΣΑΥ Medical doctors’ social insurance fund


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1. BASIC INFORMATION

1.1 Basic figures

Table 1.1 Basic figures Pop.

(m.) pop. < 18 (%)

pop. ≥ 65 (%)

Life expect. (years)

Fertility rate

Unemp rate

GDP per head

(PPP)

Currency

Name exch. rate

2007 11,171,740 19.6 18.6 77.1 (men) 81.8 (wom) 1.41 8.3 90 (p) € n/a

2008 11,213,785 19.5 18.6 77.7 (men) 82.3 (wom) 1.51 7.7 92 (p) € n/a

2009 11,260,402 19.4 18.7 77.8 (men) 82.7 (wom) 1.52 9.5 93 (p) € n/a

2010 11,305,118 n/a 18.9 78.7 (men) 83.1 (wom) 1.44 12.6 88 (p) € n/a

Source: Eurostat (2011)

1.2 The tax-benefit system

Table 1.2. Tax-benefit system and government budget Total general

government revenue[2] % of GDP

Total tax receipts[1] % of GDP

Total general government

expenditure[2] % of GDP

Social protection [2] % of GDP

2007 40.8 31.2 47.7 24.8

2008 40.7 31.8 50.6 26.3

2009 38.0 31.5 53.8 28.0

2010 39.5 30.0 50.2 n/a Source: [1]OECD (2011); [2] Eurostat (2011)

Table 1.3 Social protection expenditure by function (as % of total social protection expenditure) Sickness/

health care Disability Old age Survivors Family/

children Unemployment Housing Social

exclusion

2007 28.1 4.9 43.6 8.4 6.2 4.5 2.0 2.3

2008 29.0 4.7 42.4 8.3 6.3 5.1 2.0 2.2

2009 29.1 4.7 41.4 8.2 6.7 5.9 1.8 2.1

2010 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Source: Eurostat (2011)


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Table 1.4 Taxation (as % of total tax receipts) Personal

income tax Corporate income tax

Social security contributions Taxes on goods and services

Other taxes

Employees* Employers

2007 15.4 7.9 18.6 15.9 36.5 5.7

2008 15.6 7.9 18.5 16.4 36.2 5.4

2009 17.0 8.0 18.6 15.6 36.0 4.8

2010 n/a n/a n/a n/a 37.2 n/a * Includes self-employed Source: OECD (2011)

1.2.1 Basic information about the tax-benefit system

• The tax-benefit system is a unified, national system.

• The fiscal year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

• The public pension system in Greece is the cumulative product of a series of fragmentary measures and legislative initiatives. This fragmentation can be seen in terms of the following dimensions:

o Organisational arrangements by sector of employment. The provision of pension varies by occupation or profession of the insured. They are provided by a multiplicity of social insurance agencies or “funds”. The conditions of pension provision (retirement ages, replacement rates, contributions etc.) vary significantly, chiefly by pension fund, though there remains considerable variability within funds by occupational subgroups.

o Differences by date of first contact with the system. A new system was created for those entering the labour market after 1st January 1993, which is essentially uniform for the non-rural social insurance sector. The general retirement age for those who began working after this date is 65, for both men and women.

• Minimum school leaving age is 15.

• The definition of dependent children varies. Two examples are listed below:

o dependent children for non-contributory large family benefits are defined as (a) unmarried, aged under 23, (b) suffering from any kind of disability over 67% irrespective of age.

o dependent children for taxation purposes are defined as: (a) unmarried, aged under 18, (b) unmarried, aged under 20 and registered in ΟΑΕΔ as unemployed, (c) unmarried, aged under 25 and enrolled in post secondary or tertiary education or fulfilling their military service, (d) unmarried, aged under 27, enrolled in post secondary or tertiary education and registered in ΟΑΕΔ as unemployed, (e) suffering from any kind of disability over 67% irrespective of age.

• Any single person with never-married children living in the household, whatever their age, is considered to be a lone parent.


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• Even though spouses file a joint tax report, their income is taxed individually. Some tax allowances and tax credits are shared between spouses in proportion to their taxable income.

• Taxable income is reported under various categories namely employment, property, investments, commerce, agriculture and professions. These income sources are added together before allowances and deductions are taken into account in order to derive total taxable income. Corporate profits are taxed at a flat rate. Different rules and tax rates also apply to gains from the sale of real estate located in Greece.

• All employees and self-employed are required by law to file a tax return in spring of year x for fiscal year x-1. When the tax return is cleared, a supplementary tax may be due. The supplementary tax can be negative (i.e. when one’s tax withholdings exceed one’s final income tax liability), but is usually positive. Tax withholdings are designed in such a way that taxpayers whose sole source of income is dependent employment with a single employer find that tax withheld matches their entire tax liability (i.e. their supplementary tax is zero).

• There is no single indexing regime for taxes and benefits. Most of them are uprated once a year. However, indexation of benefits is usually ad hoc and sometimes skipped altogether. Revaluation policy is erratic, with some benefits receiving higher rises than others, for no apparent reason and with no explanation given.

• Income thresholds for some benefits often fail to keep pace with inflation or are left unchanged in nominal terms. Moreover, the income concept applied when assessing claims varies between benefit agencies. These practices often give rise to inconsistencies and distortions of the original benefits’ design.

• All tax and benefit rates provided below are those valid in 30th June of each respective year.

1.3 Minimum wage

The system for setting wages is different for workers in the private sector and workers in the public sector. In the public sector pay is determined by law, according to the government’s annual income policy. Various levels of minimum wage are set, depending on level of education, years of service and hierarchical grade etc.

In the private sector, collective agreements set wages at various levels (national, per sector, enterprise-level). The basis for setting wages is the National General Collective Labour Agreement (EΓΣΣΕ), which sets the overall minimum wages for white and blue-collar workers. The amount of minimum pay varies depending on a worker’s years of service and family status. On the sectoral level, the industry-wide collective agreements set minimum levels for the workers that they cover. Finally, enterprise-level agreements set minimum wages for workers in individual enterprises. Sectoral and enterprise-level agreements are not allowed to contain less favourable provisions than the EΓΣΣΕ’s. For more information, see section 2.3.

1.4 Social Benefits

Social insurance benefits in Greece can be divided into two main categories: contributory and non-contributory benefits.


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Contributory benefits are related to employment and are financed via employer, employee and self-employed contributions. Access to benefits is dependent on claimants’ contributory record and the occurrence of a specified contingency such as retirement or unemployment. They are provided by social insurance agencies or “funds” (i.e. semi-autonomous entities created for that purpose) and are, as a rule, positively related to previous earnings.

Non-contributory benefits, funded out of general taxation, can be distinguished into income-tested social assistance and non-income-tested categorical or universal benefits. The latter may also be granted on the basis of a specified contingency (such as disability or birth of a child).

1.4.1 Retirement benefits

Retirement benefits form the backbone of social protection in Greece. They are provided by a multiplicity of social insurance funds, mostly operating earnings-related, pay-as-you-go schemes, with different eligibility conditions applying for different categories of workers. Almost one third of all social insurance primary pensions are awarded in the event of either invalidity or widowhood, split evenly between these two types of retirement benefits, with the remaining being old age pensions. Most pensions are contributory.

The vast majority of pensions are provided by three funds: IKA, ΟΓΑ and OAEE. On the other hand, state pensions are received by retired civil servants and other beneficiaries (except employees of public enterprises who are organised separately). Apart from the primary insurance funds (typically offering replacement of up to 80%), there are also auxiliary insurance funds (offering replacement rates of up to 20%) and “welfare” funds (offering lump-sum severance payments on retirement).

With the exception of social pension which is not taxed, retirement benefits are taxable. Until 2009 they were paid 14 times per year. Since 1st January 2010 they are paid 12 times per year, with the exception of social pension, farmers’ basic pension, invalidity pensions and pensions that do not exceed €400 per month. Pensioners above 60 with average pensions plus bonuses less than €2,500 per month, whose 13th and 14th pensions are cut, receive €200 as Easter bonus, €200 as vacations bonus and €400 as Christmas bonus. If average pensions plus bonuses exceed €2,500 per month, bonuses are provided up to the approach of that threshold.

The most important contributory retirement benefits are as follows.

IKA old-age pension (σύνταξη γήρατος ΙΚΑ)

IKA is the social insurance fund for most dependent workers outside the civil service, banks and the utilities. In 2005 IKA accounted for 1,991,000 active contributors and 918,600 pensioners.

For workers first insured before 1st January 1993, the standard age of retirement is 65 for men and 60 for women, but various exceptions apply, e.g. for mothers of under-age children, workers in hard and arduous occupations etc. Pension benefits are calculated on the basis of (a) contributions record of at least 15 years, and (b) pensionable earnings calculated as the best five years of the decade prior to retirement. Those with a contributions record of at least 35 years are eligible for a seniority pension at 80% of pensionable earnings, irrespective of age. A reduced pension may be granted from the age of 55 (for women) or 60 (for men), provided they meet the contributions requirement. In case of early retirement, the pension is reduced by a rate equal to the number of months missing to the standard age of retirement, divided by 267. A minimum pension is paid to retirees whose contributions record and pensionable earnings would have entitled them to an “organic amount” below a certain level. In 2005, the level of IKA minimum pension was €411.77 per month.

For workers first insured after 1st January 1993, the standard age of retirement is 65 for both women and men. Pension benefits are calculated on the basis of (a) contributions record of at least 15 years, and (b) pensionable earnings calculated as the last five years prior to retirement.


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The accrual rate is 2%. Those with a contributions record of at least 37 years are eligible for a seniority pension at 70% of pensionable earnings, irrespective of age. A reduced pension may be granted from the age of 60, for those with a contributions record of at least 15 years or from the age of 55, for those with a contributions record of 35 years. In case of early retirement, the pension is reduced by a rate equal to the number of months missing to the standard age of retirement, divided by 267. A minimum pension is paid to retirees whose contributions record and pensionable earnings would have entitled them to an “organic amount” below a certain level, set at 70% of the minimum wage.

IKA survivors’ pension

In case of death of an insured worker or pensioner, the closest relatives may be entitled to a survivors’ pension. Beneficiaries include: a) the surviving spouse; b) the worker’s or pensioner’s children – provided they are unmarried, do not work, do not receive a pension and are aged below 18 years (24 if in full-time education); c) the worker’s or pensioner’s adult children – provided they are disabled or unfit for employment and whose disability started before they were 18; d) the worker’s or pensioner’s grandchildren – provided they are orphaned and were supported by the deceased; e) the worker’s or pensioner’s parents – provided they were supported by the deceased. The level of IKA survivor’s pension depends on the person(s) entitled to it. It varies from 20% to 100% of the pension of the deceased (i.e. 70% of the pension of the deceased if the beneficiary is only the spouse, 90% of the pension if the beneficiaries are the spouse and one child- 70% for the spouse and 20% for the child-, 100% if the beneficiaries are the spouse and two children- 63.64% for the spouse and 18.18% for each child etc).

For workers first insured after 1st January 1993, only the surviving spouse and orphaned children may be beneficiaries, while they are entitled to 50% of the pension of the deceased.

OAEE old age pension (σύνταξη γήρατος ΟΑΕΕ)

OAEE is the social insurance fund for most self-employed workers, except those in the “liberal professions” of medicine, law and engineering. In 2005 OAEE accounted for 827,267 active contributors and 278,912 pensioners.

For workers first insured before 1st January 1993, the standard age of retirement is 65 for those with a contributions record of at least 15 years, or 60 for those with a contributions record of 35 years. From 2007 all self-employed workers insured with OAEE, irrespective of the date they were first insured, are placed in 14 insurance classes (1-10 compulsory, 11-14 optional). Contribution rates and pension benefits rise with insurance class.

For self-employed workers first insured after 1st January 1993, the standard age of retirement is 65 for both women and men. Pension benefits are calculated on the basis of (a) contributions record of at least 15 years, and (b) pensionable earnings calculated as the last five years prior to retirement. The accrual rate is 2%. Those with a contributions record of at least 37 years are eligible for a seniority pension at 70% of pensionable earnings, irrespective of age. A reduced pension may be granted from the age of 60, for those with a contributions record of at least 15 years or from the age of 55, for those with a contributions record of 35 years. In case of early retirement, the pension is reduced by a rate equal to the number of months missing to the standard age of retirement, divided by 267. A minimum pension is paid to retirees whose contributions record and pensionable earnings would have entitled them to an “organic amount” below a certain level, set at 70% of the minimum wage.

Civil servants old age pension (σύνταξη δημοσίων υπαλλήλων)

For civil servants insured before 1st January 1993, the age of retirement after 25 years of service is 65 for men and 60 for women. After 35 years of service the age of retirement is 58 for both men and women. The accrual rate is 2.286%, corresponding to a replacement rate of 80% after 35 years of service.


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For civil servants first employed after 1st January 1993, the standard age of retirement is 65 for both women and men. Pension benefits are calculated on the basis of (a) contributions record of at least 15 years, and (b) pensionable earnings calculated as the last five years prior to retirement. The accrual rate is 2%. Those with a contributions record of at least 37 years are eligible for a seniority pension at 70% of pensionable earnings, irrespective of age. A reduced pension may be granted from the age of 60, for those with a contributions record of at least 15 years or from the age of 55, for those with a contributions record of 35 years. In case of early retirement, the pension is reduced by a rate equal to the number of months missing to the standard age of retirement, divided by 267. A minimum pension is paid to retirees whose contributions record and pensionable earnings would have entitled them to an “organic amount” below a certain level, set at 70% of the minimum wage.

ΟΓΑ contributory pension (κύρια σύνταξη γήρατος ΟΓΑ)

In 1998 a new contributory pension for farmers came into being. Active farmers choose among seven insurance classes. Contribution rates and pension benefits rise with insurance class. The age of retirement is 65 for both men and women. In 2005 those with a contributions records of at least six years were entitled to ΟΓΑ contributory pension. One more year of complulsory insurance is added every year until 2013, when the official minimum limit of 15 years will be reached. The accrual rate is 2%.

The most important non-contributory retirement benefits are as follows.

ΟΓΑ basic pension (βασική σύνταξη γήρατος ΟΓΑ)

This basic pension is paid on reaching the age of 65 to men and women who have worked as farmers for at least 25 years and do not receive a pension from any other social insurance fund. The basic pension is phased out as the new contributory pension for farmers (see above) is phased in. The transitional provisions stipulate that all ΟΓΑ pensioners already in retirement at the end of 2002 will be eligible to the full basic pension, while those entering retirement after 2003 will be eligible to a reduced basic pension. The rate of reduction is 4% for those retiring in 2003, 8% for those retiring in 2004, 12% for those retiring in 2005, and so on until the basic pension is no longer paid to those retiring in 2027.

Supplements are paid for a dependent spouse below 65 or children below 18, worth €3.1 and €6.2 per month respectively. The 2005-11 ΟΓΑ basic pension rates are indicated below:

Table 1.5 OΓΑ basic pension rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 ΟΓΑ basic pension 212.85 227.75 277.75 330.00 330.00 360.00 360.00

Social pension (σύνταξη ανασφάλιστων υπερηλίκων)

Social pension is paid to the non-insured elderly. In order to be eligible they must have reached the age of 65 and their total net yearly income must not exceed that corresponding to the social pension itself (i.e. €2,980 per year in 2005).

Supplements are paid for a dependent spouse below 65 or children below 18, worth €3.10 and €6.20 per month respectively. Social pension’s rates are the same as ΟΓΑ basic pension. It is also provided by ΟΓΑ. For more information, see section 2.4.1.

Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit (ΕΚΑΣ)

This is an income-tested supplement to low pensions, restricted to those receiving a contributory social insurance pension (i.e. recipients of a farmer basic pension or a social pension are


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excluded). Beneficiaries must be over 60 if in receipt of an old age pension or a survivor pension. The age condition does not apply to recipients of invalidity or orphans’ pensions.

Three income concepts are assessed separately: (a) personal net income from retirement benefits and employment earnings; (b) personal taxable income from all sources; and (c) family taxable income. The benefit amount is paid at four rates (five since 2011) depending on the level of annual net personal income from retirement benefits and employment earnings. It was fully taxable until 2007. From 1st January 2008 taxation on EKAΣ was abolished. For more information, see section 2.4.2.

Lump-sum benefit to civil servants (επίδομα συνταξιούχων δημοσίου)

This benefit was paid to civil servants in 2009. Its rate was €500 for retired civil servants with gross pension up to €800 per month or working civil servants with salaries up to €1,500 per month and €300 for retired civil servants with gross pension between €800.01 and €1,100 per month or working civil servants with salaries between €1,500.01 and €1,700 per month (pension and salary rates as in 31st December 2008). For more information, see section 2.4.10.

Lump-sum benefit to low-paid pensioners (έκτακτη οικονομική εισφορά σε χαμηλοσυνταξιούχους)

This benefit was paid to low-paid pensioners in 2011. Its rate varied from €100 to €300, depending on pensioners’ personal and family taxable income. For more information, see section 2.4.12.

1.4.2 Unemployment benefits

Unemployment insurance is mandatory for all employees except tenured civil servants and agricultural workers. ΟΑΕΔ, a tripartite organisation funded through employee and employer contributions plus state subsidies, runs a variety of unemployment compensation schemes. None of the benefits provided are taxable. Unemployment insurance benefit (επίδομα ανεργίας)

Dependent workers may be eligible for this benefit if they are involuntarily unemployed, capable and available for work, and registered with an ΟΑΕΔ employment office. Moreover:

• First-time claimants need to have worked and paid contributions for either (i) 80 days per year over the last two years, of which at least 125 days must be in the last 14 months excluding the last two months, or (ii) 200 days in the last two years excluding the last two months, of which at least 80 days in each of the last two years.

• Second-time claimants need to have worked and paid contributions for 125 days over the last 14 months excluding the last two months.

• Seasonal workers need to have worked and paid contributions for 100 days over the last 12 months.

• Construction workers and fishermen need to have worked and paid contributions for 100 days over the last 14 months.

The benefit rate in 2005 was €311.25 per month (a month corresponds to 25 days of unemployment). The rate is raised by 10% for each dependent family member up to the third. The benefit’s duration is a function of contributory record; it is payable for at most 12 months, average duration being seven months. A part of the benefit is still payable if the person finds an occasional or part-time employment of up to three non-consecutive days per week. For more information, see section 2.4.8.

Unemployment assistance for older workers (επίδομα μακροχρονίως ανέργων)


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This is paid to workers aged 45-65 who have been unemployed for more than 12 months and have already exhausted the right to unemployment insurance benefit (see above), if their annual family income is below €5,000. The income threshold is increased by €587 for each dependent child. The level of the benefit is set at €200 per month (unchanged since 2003), payable for a period of 12 months. For more information, see section 2.4.7.

Seasonal unemployment benefit (εποχιακά βοηθήματα)

This benefit is paid as a lump sum to occupational groups characterized by a pattern of seasonal employment (builders, tobacco workers, actors, ceramists, forest workers, musicians, etc.). Different rates and conditions apply according to the occupational group a worker belongs.

Benefit for young persons aged 20-29 (επίδομα σε νέους/ες 20-29 ετών)

It is paid to persons aged 20-29 on condition that these are out of work and remain in the unemployed records for one year. The benefit is payable for a period of five months; it amounts to €73.37 per month, raised by €5.87 per dependant (child or spouse).

1.4.3 Family benefits

Income transfers to families with children include non-contributory benefits and contributory family allowances. Contributory family allowances are automatically added to civil servants’ (and some other groups’) pay and are taxed. Lower allowances are paid by ΟΑΕΔ to private sector employees irrespective of social insurance affiliation.

Table 1.6 Contributory family allowances (2005-2011) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Banking employees married 85.40 92.20 96.90 104.90 108.00 108.00 108.00 married with 1 child 128.10 138.30 145.35 157.35 162.00 162.00 162.00 married with 2 children 149.45 161.35 169.58 183.58 189.00 189.00 189.00 married with 3 children 170.80 184.40 193.80 209.80 216.00 216.00 216.00 married with 4 children 213.50 230.50 242.25 262.25 270.00 270.00 270.00

Civil servants married 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 married with 1 child 53.00 53.00 53.00 53.00 53.00 53.00 53.00 married with 2 children 71.00 71.00 71.00 71.00 71.00 71.00 71.00 married with 3 children 118.00 118.00 118.00 118.00 118.00 118.00 118.00 married with 4 children 165.00 165.00 165.00 165.00 165.00 165.00 165.00

Private sector employees married 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 married with 1 child 8.22 8.22 8.22 8.22 8.22 8.22 8.22 married with 2 children 24.65 24.65 24.65 24.65 24.65 24.65 24.65 married with 3 children 55.47 55.47 55.47 55.47 55.47 55.47 55.47 married with 4 children 67.38 67.38 67.38 67.38 67.38 67.38 67.38

Notes: € per month. For banking employees, the amount of family allowance depends on the “salary class” of the employee. The amounts reported correspond to the lowest salary class.

Non-contributory benefits targeted to large families include “lifetime pension for mothers of many children”, “large family benefit” and “3rd child benefit”. They are funded out of general taxation. Until 2006 they were either taxed as income or at source at 10%. Since 1st January 2007 they are no longer 10% taxed at source. A 1.2% duty stamp is always deducted at source. Large family benefits are delivered by ΟΓΑ and are indexed to consumer prices. On 1st January 2006 a “lump sum €2,000 birth grant” was also introduced.


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3rd child benefit (επίδομα τρίτου παιδιού)

It is paid to families with three (or more) children until the third child reaches the age of six. The benefit is claimed by the mother, unless she is dead or has left the household, in which case it is drawn by the father. The benefit rates are indicated in Table 7. For more information, see section 2.4.3.

Large family benefit (πολυτεκνικό επίδομα)

It is paid monthly to families with four or more children (of any age and irrespective of whether they live together with their parents or not). Since 2006 it is also paid to lone parents with three children, disabled parents (over 67%) with three children and children orphaned from both parents if they are two or more. Since 2008 large family benefit is also provided to families of three children. The benefit is claimed by the mother, unless she is dead or has left the household, in which case it is drawn by the father. The benefit is paid for every child of the family that is unmarried and aged less than 23 years old or suffering from any kind of disability over 67% irrespective of age. The benefit rates (per eligible child) are indicated in Table 7. For more information, see section 2.4.4.

Lifetime pension for mothers of many children (ισόβια σύνταξη πολύτεκνης μητέρας)

It is paid to mothers with four or more children (of any age and irrespective of whether they live together with their parents or not) who are no longer eligible for the “many children benefit”. The benefit rates are indicated in Table 7.

Lump sum €2,000 birth grant (εφάπαξ παροχή €2,000)

The benefit, introduced on 1st January 2006 is paid as a lump sum to mothers giving birth to a third child and to each child over the third. It is not taxed. For more information, see section 2.4.5.

Table 1.7 Non-contributory benefits targeted to large families (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 3rd child benefit 154.27 159.82 164.45 170.86 174.28 178.81 177.00 Large family benefit 38.57 39.95 41.10 42.71 43.55 44.68 44.00 Lifetime pension for mothers of many children 88.72 91.91 94.58 98.27 100.24 102.85 102.00

Other non-contributory family benefits include the following:

Unprotected children benefit (επίδομα απροστάτευτων παιδιών)

A monthly benefit of €44.02 is paid to each unprotected child up to the age of 16, on the condition that the monthly income of the family with which the child resides is below €235 per month (net of rent, for a 3-member family, increased by €20 for each family member after the third).

Single parent benefit (επίδομα μονογονεϊκής οικογένειας)

It is paid to lone parents who do not receive the “unprotected children benefit” and whose yearly income does not exceed €2,817. The benefit rate is €105.65 per month for lone parents with one child and €148.20 per month for those with two children.


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Income support to families with children in compulsory education (εισοδηματική ενίσχυση οικογενειών με ανήλικα τέκνα υποχρεωτικής εκπαίδευσης)

It is paid to families with children aged 6 to 16 on the condition that they are in compulsory education and the annual income of the family does not exceed €3,000. The benefit is worth €300 a year per child. For more information, see section 2.4.6.

1.4.4 Sickness and maternity benefits

Most social insurance funds provide sickness and maternity benefits in cash. These include statutory sick pay, maternity leave, birth grants, compensation for absence due to accidents at work, and death grants – plus a variety of other benefits ranging from tuberculosis therapy to children holiday camps (hardly a “sickness benefit” at all). Various schemes are operated by social insurance funds. The most important benefits, provided by IKA, OΓΑ, ΟΑΕΕ and ΟΠΑΔ, are as follows.

IKA sickness / accident allowance (επίδομα ασθένειας / εργατικού ατυχήματος IKA)

Insured workers are entitled to sickness allowance when sick, provided that IKA Health Boards certify they are temporarily unfit for work. The period of receipt is conditional on prior contributions. Persons insured are entitled to sickness allowance for up to:

• 182 days for the same or a different disease, provided they have completed 100 insurance days in the year prior to their illness or in the last 15 months, excluding the three most recent months

• 360 days for the same disease, provided they have completed 300 insurance days in the last two years prior to their illness or in the last 30 months

• 720 days for the same disease, provided they fulfil IKA’s requirements for invalidity pension.

In case of an accident at work causing illness or injury, insured workers are entitled to accident allowance. No contributions test applies. If the accident is not work-related, the contributions required are half those demanded for sickness allowance.

The amount of the benefit, which is taxed as income, depends on the employee’s insurance class in the last month of the year prior to his/her disease or accident and on the days of absence from work. No benefit is paid for the first three days of absence. The daily amount payable from day 4 to day 15 of absence equals 25% of the notional daily wage corresponding to the person’s insurance class. The daily amount payable from day 16 onwards equals 50% of the notional daily wage corresponding to the person’s insurance class. The benefit is raised by 10% for each dependent family member up to the fourth.

IKA maternity or “pregnancy-confinement” allowance (επίδομα κυοφορίας-λοχείας IKA)

In case of pregnancy, if an insured worker has accumulated a minimum of 200 insurance days in the 24 months before delivery, she is entitled to maternity allowance, paid for a total of 17 weeks (8 weeks before and 9 weeks after child birth). The daily amount equals 50% of the notional daily wage corresponding to the person’s insurance class. It is increased by 10% for each dependent family member up to the fourth. It is not taxed.

Moreover, during this out-of-work period (17 weeks) employers are mandated to pay one monthly salary for persons employed for more than one year and 50% of the salary for persons employed for less than one year. The salary is reduced by the amount of allowance received from IKA. For the remaining out-of-work period the difference between the person’s previous earnings and IKA’s maternity allowance is made up by an additional maternity allowance, paid as a lump sum by OAEΔ.


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IKA birth grant (επίδομα τοκετού IKA)

This is paid as a lump sum to insured workers and pensioners (or the non-working wives of an insured worker or pensioner) in case of child birth. The rate is set at 30 times the minimum daily wage of an unskilled manual worker (€766.80 in 2005). It is not taxed.

IKA death or “funeral expenses” grant (έξοδα κηδείας IKA)

This is paid as a lump sum in case of death of an insured worker or pensioner, on the condition that the deceased had accumulated 100 insurance days in the year preceding their death. The rate is set at 8 times the reference earnings of IKA’s higher insurance class (€668.40 in 2005) and it is not taxed.

OAEE accident allowance (επίδομα εργατικού ατυχήματος OAEE)

Self-employed workers are entitled to accident allowance when an accident at work leaves them unfit for work for at least 30 days. The rate is set at 3 times the amount of contributions paid per month by the insured worker (i.e. maximum €1,398 in 2005) and it is taxed. The allowance can be paid for up to four months. Note that OAEE pays no sickness allowance.

OAEE birth grant (επίδομα τοκετού OAEE)

This is paid as a lump sum to self-employed workers and pensioners (or the non-working wives of an insured worker or pensioner) in case of child birth. In 2005-11 the value of the grant was €800, increased in case of multiple births by 50% for each child after the first. It is not taxed. Note that OAEE pays no maternity allowance.

OAEE death or “funeral expenses” grant (έξοδα κηδείας OAEE)

This is paid as a lump sum in case of death of an insured self-employed worker or pensioner. In 2005-11 it was worth €1,200. It is not taxed.

ΟΓΑ maternity or “pregnancy-confinement” allowance (επίδομα κυοφορίας-λοχείας ΟΓΑ)

In case of pregnancy, insured farmers are eligible for maternity allowance. It is paid as a lump sum. Its value is set at the amount of contributions paid per month by the insured worker (i.e. maximum €398 in 2005), increased in case of multiple births by 50% for each child after the first. It is not taxed.

ΟΓΑ birth grant (επίδομα τοκετού ΟΓΑ)

It is paid as a lump sum if delivery occurs in a private hospital or a private clinic not contracted to OΓA. Its amount equals 50% of ΟΓΑ’s maternity allowance and it is not taxed.

Civil servants sickness allowance (επίδομα ασθένειας δημοσίου)

Civil servants are entitled to sickness allowance when sick, provided that Civil Service Health Boards certify they are temporarily unfit for work. The allowance can be paid for a maximum period of 12 months, while its value exactly matches expected earnings. It is taxed.

Civil servants maternity allowance (επίδομα κυοφορίας-λοχείας δημοσίου)

In case of pregnancy, female civil servants are entitled to a maternity allowance paid for a total of five months (two months before and three months after child birth). The value of the allowance exactly matches expected earnings. It is not taxed.

Civil servants birth grant (επίδομα τοκετού δημοσίου)

This is paid as a lump sum to female civil servants and pensioners (or the non-working wives of an insured worker or pensioner) in case of child birth. In 2005-11 the value of the grant was €1,000, raised by 50% in case of twins, 75% in case of triplets, 100% in case of quadruples etc. It is not taxed.


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Birth grant to non-insured (επίδομα μητρότητας ανασφαλίστων)

Those unable to claim maternity benefit from an insurance fund, either because they failed to meet the contributory conditions or because they were uninsured, can apply for this grant, paid as a lump sum and administrated by local government at prefecture level. Its amount was €440.20 in 2005-11 (€220.10 before and €220.10 after delivery). It is not taxed.

1.4.5 Disability benefits

Most social insurance funds provide contributory disability benefits and invalidity pensions in cash. Disability benefits are not taxable whereas invalidity pensions are subject to taxation.

Various benefits are available, related to the contributions history or the employment status of their members. The most important disability benefit provided by IKA, OΓΑ and ΟΑΕΕ is the “extra-institutional benefit” (εξωιδρυματικό επίδομα), paid to pensioners suffering from quadriplegia - paraplegia over 67% or other conditions with the same effects on mobility. Active workers may also be eligible, provided they meet the contributory conditions (350 insurance days over the last four years for IKA, 40 contribution months for OAEE, one contribution year for ΟΓΑ and so on). The benefit may also be payable to dependants. The value of benefit (€511.20 per month in 2005) is set at 20 times the minimum daily wage of an unskilled manual worker, and is withdrawn if the claimant is institutionalised or in receipt of any other benefit for the same disability.

Social insurance funds also provide invalidity pensions. IKA’s minimum contributory record for an invalidity pension is:

a) 300 insurance days for workers aged less than 21. The number of insurance days of retirement rises with age (by 120 per year) to 4,200 insurance days for workers aged less than 54, of which 300 in the five years prior to claiming, or

b) 1,500 insurance days, of which 600 in the five years prior to claiming, or c) 4,500 insurance days

No contributory record is required for insured workers suffering from an accident at work or an occupational disease, provided it results to a degree of disability of at least 50%, same as the minimum degree of disability required for an invalidity pension due to ordinary disease. The amount of pension varies according to the degree of invalidity.

Non-contributory disability benefits are also available, funded out of general taxation and administered by local government at the prefecture level. In the past, the benefits were subject to various forms of means testing (abolished in 1987). Although not explicitly income tested, most benefits are reduced or withdrawn altogether if the recipient is in employment, a pensioner, or in receipt of invalidity pension. Non-contributory disability benefits are not taxable.

Non-contributory disability benefits are highly heterogeneous by type of disability and sometimes by category of recipient. There are 10 categories and 21 sub-categories of disability, in addition to a generic “mobility allowance”. In 2005, out of a total 168,515 disability benefit claimants, over 101,000 received “severe disability benefit”. The most important non-contributory disability benefits, ranked by number of recipients, follow. Severe disability benefit (επίδομα βαριάς αναπηρίας)

It is paid to those unable to take up paid employment because they suffer from severe disability (at least 67%), provided they are not in receipt of a contributory disability benefit.

Blindness benefit (επίδομα τυφλότητας)

It is paid to persons whose eyesight is below 1/20.


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Severe mental retardation benefit (επίδομα βαριάς νοητικής καθυστέρησης)

It is paid to persons whose IQ is below 30.

Kidney disease sufferers nutritional allowance (διατροφικό επίδομα νεφροπαθών)

It is paid to kidney disease sufferers, irrespective of social insurance coverage.

Fuel benefit for the disabled (επίδομα κίνησης αναπήρων)

It is paid to amputees or persons with leg paralysis owning a specially converted vehicle.

Quadriplegic/ paraplegic benefit (επίδομα τετραπληγίας/ παραπληγίας)

It is paid to those affected, if unable to claim the corresponding benefit from an insurance fund, either because they failed to meet the contributory conditions or because they were uninsured.

AIDS-hemophilia benefit (επίδομα AIDS-αιμορροφιλίας)

It is paid to affected persons, irrespective of social insurance coverage.

Benefit for the deaf-mute (επίδομα κωφαλάλων)

It is paid to affected persons of non-working age, and to those of working age if unable to take up paid employment.

Thalassemia benefit (επίδομα μεσογειακής αναιμίας)

It is paid to affected persons, irrespective of social insurance coverage.

Hansen’s disease benefit (επίδομα χανσενικών)

It is paid to affected persons, irrespective of social insurance coverage. It is also paid to dependent members of their family (i.e. spouse/parents/siblings if economically dependent and children below 18) for as long as the patient is institutionalised.

Brain paralysis benefit (επίδομα εγκεφαλικής παράλυσης)

It is paid to affected persons aged 0-18.

The amounts of non-contributory disability benefits are indicated below:


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Table 1.8 Non-contributory disability benefit rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Severe disability benefit 210 220 230 248 268 290 313 Blindness benefit

workers, pensioners, working students 222 244 266 287 310 335 362 unemployed workers, non-working students, children in primary/secondary education, lawyers, university teachers 460 500 532 569 609 652 697

Severe mental retardation benefit 305 332 360 396 436 479 527 Kidney disease sufferers nutritional allowance 222 244 266 287 310 335 362 Fuel benefit for the disabled 158 160 165 165 165 165 165 Quadriplegic/ paraplegic benefit 511 528 588 629 673 720 771 AIDS-hemophilia benefit 460 500 532 569 609 652 697 Benefit for the deaf-mute 222 244 266 287 310 335 362 Thalassemia benefit 232 249 266 287 310 335 362 Hansen’s disease benefit

institutionalised patients/ dependent family members 222 244 266 287 310 335 362 non-institutionalised patients, unable to take up paid employment 400 470 532 569 609 652 697

Brain paralysis benefit 360 440 532 569 609 652 697

1.4.6 Housing benefits

OEK covers all dependent workers, except civil servants, and provides them a range of housing benefits, including subsidized housing loans and a rent subsidy. The most important benefits provided by OEK are indicated below:

ΟΕΚ rent subsidy (επιδότηση ενοικίου ΟΕΚ)

The rent subsidy is conditional on contributory record. Single applicants need to have at least 10 years of contributions. Lower eligibility criteria apply to various other categories of claimants, such as large families, single mothers, the disabled, young couples, temporary workers etc. It is not taxed.

The rent subsidy is open to workers whose annual net family income did not exceed €11,000 in 2005-06, €11,500 in 2007 and €12,000 in 2008-11. The income threshold is increased by €2,000 for each dependent child. Above the threshold the benefit is subject to a 100% implicit tax rate (i.e. it is reduced €1 per €1), until it falls to 1/3 of its original value, at which point it is fully withdrawn. An asset test also applies. Note that the payment of the benefit was entirely suspended for 2010. Its rates are presented below:


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Table 1.9 OEK rent subsidy rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006-11 OEK rent subsidy for:

unmarried – married with no children 105 115 married with 1 child 130 140 married with 2 children 155 165 married with 3 children 205 215 married with 4 children 205 215

Note: The benefit is increased by €25 for each child after the fourth.

OEK interest rate subsidy programme

OEK subsidizes mortgage interest rates taken up by eligible workers, while a similar role is played by a state loans agency in the case of civil servants. The subsidy varies by income and marital status, and is provided for a period of 9 and 7.5 years respectively. The subsidy may reduce interest repayments by up to 60%.

Moreover, approximately 1,500 housing units on average are ceded annually by ΟΕΚ at cost which represents approximately 2/5 of their commercial value in the free market.

Housing benefit for non-insured elderly (στεγαστική συνδρομή ανασφαλίστων)

This is a non-contributory benefit, administrated by local government at prefecture level. It is paid directly to landlords on behalf of uninsured persons aged over 65 on low income (i.e. less than €5,000, increased by 30% for a spouse and by 20% per dependent child). It is not taxable. The amount of benefit during the period of 2005-2010 is indicated below:

Table 1.10 Housing benefit for non-insured elderly rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Housing benefit for non-insured elderly 222 244 266 287 310 335 362

Student housing benefit (φοιτητικό στεγαστικό επίδομα)

An allowance of €1,000 per year may be payable for every dependent child enrolled in tertiary education residing in a town other than his/her family’s main residence, provided annual family income is below €30,000, raised by €3,000 for each child after the first.

1.4.7 Other benefits

Other benefits include emergency benefits, special allowances for ex-prisoners or repatriated Greeks as well as benefits for poor households living in less favoured areas. They are provided by various agencies, such as municipalities, ΟΑΕΔ, tax offices etc. The numbers of recipients and annual expenditure are presented in Tables 13 and 14.

Emergency social help (ειδικό επίδομα άμεσης προστασίας)

Emergency help may be available for victims of natural disasters. Families suffering loss of life, or serious injury, or disability, may receive a €4,402 payment, paid as lump sum. Those whose home was damaged may receive a grant of €587, also paid as lump sum to cover basic needs. Several additional conditions apply: beneficiaries must be Greek residents, on low income (i.e. less than €5,000 per year, increased by 30% for a spouse and by 20% per dependent child), the damaged home must be their primary one (i.e. no help for holiday homes).


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Emergency allowance (επίδομα έκτακτης κοινωνικής βοήθειας)

A similar allowance of €250, paid as lump sum, may be available for those unable to cover basic needs due to an emergency (such as illness, death in the family etc).

Special allowance for released prisoners (επίδομα αποφυλακισμένων)

This is paid to recently released non-reoffending prisoners within two months of their release for a period of three months. The allowance is indexed to unemployment benefit. Since 2010 it became means-tested; in order to be eligible, the net annual family income of the recipient should be less than €9,097.58. The amount of the allowance is indicated in Table 1.11.

Special allowance for repatriated Greeks (επίδομα παλλινιστούντων)

This allowance is paid to political refugees who left Greece during the civil war or to ethnic Greeks from the countries of Eastern Europe, provided they are on the OAEΔ unemployed lists. It is indexed to unemployment benefit and it is paid thrice, once every three months. The allowance amount is indicated in Table 1.11.

Table 1.11 Special allowances (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Special allowance for released prisoners 186.75 186.75 220.43 242.40 272.55 272.55 272.55 Special allowance for repatriated Greeks 311.25 311.25 367.38 404.11 454.25 454.25 454.25

Benefit for households in less favoured areas (εισοδηματική ενίσχυση ορεινών και μειονεκτικών περιοχών)

It is paid to households residing in one of a list of “less favoured areas” and it is income-tested. Its income thresholds and rates are presented below:

Table 1.12 Benefit for households in less favoured rates (2005-2011) 2005-07 2008 2009 2010 2011 Income threshold for:

full rate 2,000 2,200 2,600 3,000 3,000 reduced rate 3,000 3,300 4,000 4,700 4,700

Benefit rates (€ per month) full rate 600 600 600 600 600 reduced rate 300 300 300 300 300

Lump-sum heating benefit (επίδομα θέρμανσης)

This benefit was paid to ΟΓΑ pensioners as well as unemployment benefit, EKAΣ, non-contributory disability benefits and social pension recipients in 2009. Its amount was €100, €150 or €200, depending on the residential place of beneficiaries (southern part of the country, midlands and northern part of the country respectively). It was not taxed. For more information, see section 2.4.9.


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• Scope and scale

Table 1.13 Social benefits: recipients (as % of population) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1. Retirement benefits

Main pensions 23.92 24.15 24.42 25.06 n/a IKA main old age pensions 4.98 5.07 5.33 6.32[a]

10.53 IKA invalidity pensions 1.18 1.16 1.17 1.18[a] IKA survivor pensions 2.20 2.23 2.30 2.54[a] OAEE old age pensions 2.52 2.59 2.60 2.72 2.83 civil servant’ pensions 3.30 3.33 3.37 n/a n/a OΓΑ pensions 7.76 7.73 7.64 7.40 7.42

Supplementary pensions 8.30 8.68 8.91 9.25 9.71 Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit 3.56 3.49 n/a n/a n/a Social pension 0.55 0.57 0.59 0.60 0.62 Lump-sum benefit to civil servants - - - - n/a

2. Sickness-maternity benefits[b] IKA funeral expenses grant 0.30 0.30 n/a n/a n/a IKA maternity allowance 0.45 0.49 n/a n/a n/a

3. Disability benefits[c] Severe disability benefit 0.92 0.94 1.11 1.04 n/a Other disability benefits 0.60 0.62 0.71 0.70 n/a

4. Family benefits Large family benefit 0.78 0.76 0.75 2.11 2.10 3rd child benefit 0.47 0.48 0.50 0.48 0.52 Lifetime pension for mothers of many children 1.73 1.69 1.64 1.59 1.55 Lump sum €2,000 birth grant - 0.07 0.13 0.09 0.16 Unprotected children benefit 0.27 0.19 0.19 n/a n/a ΟΑΕΔ family allowance 3.23 3.20 3.21 3.54 n/a Income support to families with children in compulsory education 0.21 0.25 0.23 0.15 n/a

5. Unemployment benefits Unemployment insurance 3.00 2.60 2.66 2.18 n/a Unemployment assistance for older workers 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 n/a

6. Housing benefits ΟΕΚ rent subsidy 0.58 0.74 0.91 1.13 n/a Housing benefit for non-insured elderly 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 n/a Student housing benefit 0.59 0.56 0.45 0.40 n/a

7. Other benefits Special allowance for released prisoners 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 n/a Special allowance for repatriated Greeks 0.09 n/a n/a n/a n/a Benefit for households in less favoured areas 0.45 0.36 0.39 0.45 n/a Lump-sum heating benefit - - - - n/a

Notes: [a] In 2008 public utilities and banking social insurance funds were merged with IKA [b] No aggregate data available [c] The figure refers to non-contributory disability benefits alone. Source: Own elaboration of data derived from various official sources.


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Table 1.14 Social benefit: expenditure 2005 2006 2007 2008 Annual expenditure (million €) 26,069 26,935 29,662 31,993

as % of total expenditure

1. Retirement pensions Main pensions 75.10 75.64 77.28 76.73 Supplementary pensions 11.76 12.16 12.45 13.19 Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit 2.70 2.67 n/a n/a Social pension 0.75 0.81 0.92 1.02 Lump-sum benefit to civil servants - - - -

2a. Sickness benefits 1.33 1.33 1.23 1.19 2b Maternity benefits 0.53 0.55 0.55 0.57 3. Disability benefits[a]

Severe disability benefit 0.98 0.99 1.15 1.07 Other disability benefits 0.85 0.88 1.03 1.00

4. Family benefits Large family benefit 0.52 0.48 0.45 1.06 3rd child benefit 0.39 0.36 0.36 0.37 Lifetime pension for mothers of many children 0.79 0.75 0.70 0.66 Lump-sum €2,000 birth grant - 0.05 0.10 0.07 Unprotected children benefit 0.06 0.04 0.04 n/a ΟΑΕΔ family allowance 0.38 0.35 0.33 0.30 Income support to families with children in compulsory education 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02

5. Unemployment benefits Unemployment insurance 2.69 2.26 2.15 2.07 Unemployment assistance for older workers 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

6. Housing benefits ΟΕΚ rent subsidy 0.42 0.53 0.62 n/a Housing benefit for non-insured elderly 0.01 0.02 0.02 n/a Student housing benefit 0.25 0.22 0.17 0.14

7. Other benefits Special allowance for released prisoners 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Special allowance for repatriated Greeks 0.01 n/a n/a n/a Benefit for households in less favoured areas 0.10 0.08 0.08 0.08 Lump-sum heating benefit - - - -

Notes: [a] The figure refers to non-contributory disability benefits alone Source: Own elaboration of data derived from various official sources

• Not strictly benefits

Social contributions rebate for low earners (επιδότηση εργατικής εισφοράς χαµηλοµίσθων)

It is targeted to minimum wage earners as a rebate of their IKA social contributions for pension insurance (6.67% of gross earnings). The monthly minimum value of the rebate for manual workers is presented below:


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Table 1.15 Social contributions rebate for manual workers (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Social contributions rebate for manual workers (minimum value) 42.62 45.25 49.00 50.75 55.00 55.00 55.00

1.5 Social contributions

Social contributions are paid by all members of social insurance funds, whether active or retired. As elsewhere in continental Europe, membership of a social insurance organisation is compulsory.

Social insurance in Greece is highly fragmented, with contribution rates varying considerably between (and sometimes within) social insurance funds. Each fund is responsible for collecting social contributions. The most significant cases are presented below.

IKA

Workers insured with IKA (96.1% of all private sector employees) pay social contributions at a flat rate of 12.22% of “reference earnings”. Reference earnings reflect the notional wage for every one of IKA’s 28 insurance classes, where private sector employees are placed according to their actual earnings. Employer contributions are charged at 21.43% of reference earnings. IKA contributions are deducted at source, and pay for pension and sickness insurance. Hazardous occupations are subject to extra contributions (2.15% for employers and 3.45% for employees). In 2005 an upper earnings threshold of €2,140.50 and €4,881.26 applied to contributors first employed before and after 1st January 1993 respectively.

In addition to IKA contributions, IKA workers (and their employers) also pay contributions for related benefits: to ΟΑΕΔ for family and unemployment benefits, to OEK for housing benefits, and to OEE for various other benefits such as book vouchers, reduced theatre tickets, “social tourism” etc. In 2005 these amounted to 3.78% and 6.63% of reference earnings for employees and employers respectively. For more information, see sections 2.5.1 and 2.5.2.1.

Self-employed workers

The main social insurance fund for self-employed workers is OAEE, created in 1999 after the merger of TEBE with two smaller funds (TAE and ΤΣΑ).

Social contributions for self-employed workers are set at fixed amounts per insurance class, according to a schedule revised annually. In 2005, 10 insurance classes applied for former TEBE members first active before 1st January 1993. Contributors were first allocated to insurance class E, after one year they were moved to insurance class F, after another 5 years to insurance class G, and after another four years to insurance class H (highest compulsory one). Pension contributions varied from €504 (insurance class A) to €4,860 (insurance class J) per year, while sickness contributions were charged at a flat €732 per year. For those insured in TAE 3 insurance classes applied. For those first insured after 1st January 1993 there were 14 insurance classes (1 to 14); the first five were compulsory, the next nine optional. However, social contributions still varied by constituent fund.

In 2007 insurance classes were harmonised for all OAEE members, irrespective of constituent fund and of the date they were first insured; 14 insurance classes apply (ten compulsory and four optional). OAEE members are placed in the 1st (lowest) class, then transferred to the next after three years. Contributions were also (partly) harmonised for those first insured before 1st January 1993.

For more information, see sections 2.5.3.1 and 2.5.3.2.


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Civil servants

Civil servants, with the exception of public enterprise employees, pay social contributions for pension and sickness insurance. Pension insurance here includes primary and supplementary benefits, plus a separation benefit paid as a lump sum. The contribution rate is 17.29% or 19.62% of earnings, for contributors first employed before and after 1st January 1993 respectively. For more information, see section 2.5.2.2.

Public enterprise workers

Persons working in public utilities1 are insured in a variety of enterprise-specific insurance schemes. Compared to IKA, these schemes generally levy higher contributions and provide more generous benefits. In 2008 public enterprise workers’ social insurance funds were merged with IKA. For more information, see section 2.5.2.3.

Banking employees

Employees of (formerly) state-controlled banks are insured in separate social insurance schemes, generally levying higher contributions and providing more generous benefits. Although most of these banks have been partly or fully privatised since the early 1990s, this has not affected the special status enjoyed by their employees in terms of social insurance. In 2008 banking employees’ social insurance funds were merged with IKA. For more information, see section 2.5.2.4.

Liberal professions

The definition of liberal professions mainly includes medical doctors, lawyers and engineers. The relevant social insurance funds insuring these categories are collectively known as “noble funds” for the high level of benefits and quality of services they usually provide. For more information, see sections 2.5.2.5 and 2.5.3.3.

Farmers

Persons active in agriculture and related occupations such as fishing, as well as those active in other sectors but resident in rural areas (defined as settlements with a population below 2,000) are all insured with the farmers’ social insurance fund ΟΓΑ. Until recently ΟΓΑ mostly provided non-contributory benefits, such as farmer basic pensions. Since 1998 it has been gradually developing into a social insurance organisation, collecting social contributions and providing contributory benefits such as the new main pension. Contribution rates and contributory benefits both vary by insurance class. Farmers voluntarily choose to be placed in one of seven insurance classes. Contributions are set as a proportion of notional income, at 7% and 1.5% for pension and sickness insurance respectively. For more information, see section 2.5.4.

Pensioners

Pensioner social contributions are levied at a flat 4% of pension income. Such contributions pay for sickness insurance and are deducted at source. For more information, see section 2.5.5.

1 Although some of these public enterprises have been partly or fully privatised since the early 1990s, this has not affected the special status enjoyed by their employees in terms of social insurance.


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• Scope and scale

Table 1.16 Social contributions: main pension contributors (as % of population) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Employees

Private sector workers 17.96 17.90 18.05 19.60 19.67 Seamen 0.21 0.52 0.21 0.19 n/a Other private sector workers 0.27 0.22 0.10 0.22 0.21 Press workers 0.24 0.20 0.18 0.20 0.20 Civil servants 4.01 3.92 3.97 3.98 n/a Banking employees 0.19 0.14 0.14 [a] [a] Public utilities employees 0.62 0.59 0.55

Self-employed

Own-account workers (TEBE) 5.27 7.56 7.20 7.48 7.37 Other self-employed (TAE-TΣΑ) 2.19 Lawyers, doctors & engineers 2.16 2.25 2.28 2.33 2.38 Miscellaneous 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.20 n/a Farmers 6.48 6.48 6.40 6.47 6.45

Notes: [a] In 2008 public utilities and banking social insurance funds were merged with IKA. Source: Own elaboration of data derived from Social Budgets 2005-09.

Table 1.17 Social contributions: revenue 2005 2006 2007 2008 Social contributions (million €) 31,281 34,314 37,755 n/a

As % of total social contributions revenue: Contribution of insured persons 31.33 30.11 30.60 n/a Employers’ contribution 29.60 29.05 29.70 n/a State contribution[a] 4.19 4.30 4.19 n/a Earmarked resources[b] 5.53 5.04 4.75 n/a State subsidies[c] 21.16 22.32 22.94 n/a Property income 4.29 5.07 4.65 n/a Other revenue 3.89 4.11 3.17 n/a

Notes: [a] State contribution to social insurance funds at 10% of gross earnings was officially established in 1993. From 2003, official State contribution to IKA was set equal to 1% of yearly GDP. [b] Revenue from indirect taxation on certain products and transactions directed to specific social insurance funds (mainly ΟΓΑ and noble funds). [c] Ad hoc subsidies to indebted social insurance funds, additional to official State contribution. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority.

1.6 Taxes

Personal income tax (φόρος εισοδήματος φυσικών προσώπων)

Personal income tax applies to income from dependent employment, liberal profession, commercial activities, agricultural activities, property, investment etc. With the exception of some cases that are treated separately, all income is added together before allowances and deductions are taken into account. All residents with an annual income of over €3,000 are


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required to file an income tax return. Under certain conditions, such as the purchase of property, the obligation to file an income tax return applies even to those earning less than €3,000 per year. Married couples fill in a joint tax return, even though each spouse’s income is taxed separately. Tax relief takes the form of tax allowances (reducing taxable income) and tax deductions (reducing tax due). The list of allowances and deductions is revised annually, but generally includes medical expenses and elderly care, private insurance contributions, education expenses, mortgage interest repayments, rent and maintenance payments, charitable donations and household expenses. Taxable income is subject to a progressive tax schedule, with rates ranging from 15% to 45% in 2005-11. A personal tax allowance is available, to which a dependent child tax allowance is also added. For more information, see section 2.6.

Corporate income tax (φορολόγηση εισοδήματος νομικών προσώπων)

Companies registered as Sociétés Anonymes (S.A.), other than banks and insurance companies, are taxed on their total net income or profit derived from business activities in Greece or abroad. Distributed profits are net of corporate income tax. The tax rate fell from 35% in 2004 to 32% in 2005 and further to 29% in 2006, 25% in 2007-2009, 24% in 2010 and 20% in 2011. Shares to non-listed companies are taxed at 5% upon transfer (0.15% if listed).

Interest income tax (φόρος επί τόκων καταθέσεων)

Interest on bank deposits is taxed at 10%. For more information, see section 2.7.

Value added tax (φόρος προστιθέμενης αξίας)

Two VAT rates apply: a lower rate of 9% (10% from 15th March 2010 and 11% from 1st July 2010), applicable to food and other basic commodities and some services; and a higher rate of 19% (21% from 15th March 2010 and 23% from 1st July 2010), applicable to all other items. Books and print are subject to half the lower rate (4.5% to 5% and 5.5%).

Large property tax (φόρος μεγάλης ακίνητης περιουσίας)

Property worth in excess of €243,600 in terms of cadastral values is taxed at 0.3% to 0.8% of the excess value, depending on its level. Property owned by corporations is taxed at a flat 0.7% of the excess value. The tax-free value is raised to €487,200 for married couples, to €548,850 for couples with one child, €610,500 for couples with two children, €683,900 for couples with three children and so on. Large property tax was abolished on 31st December 2007 and replaced by Single Property Fee (ETAK). Hence, since 1st January 2008 property worth in excess of €300,000 in terms of cadastral values is taxed at 0.1% and property owned by corporations is taxed at a flat 0.6% of the excess value. The tax-free value is not raised for married couples or couples with children. In 2010 ETAK reverted to single property tax (ενιαίο τέλος ακινήτων). Thus, since 1st January 2010 property worth in excess of €400,000 in terms of cadastral values (€200,000 since 2011) is taxed at 0.1% to 2% of the excess value (0.2% to 2% since 2011) depending on its level, whereas property worth in excess of €5 million is taxed at 2%. Property owned by corporations is taxed at a flat 0.6% of the excess value.

Emergency property tax (ειδικό τέλος ακινήτων)

Since 2011, all persons who own commercial or residential property in Greece are subject to an emergency property tax. Its amount, varying from €3 to €16 per square meter, depends on the size, the age and the location of the property. A reduced rate of €0.50 per square meter applies to vulnerable population categories (i.e. large families, unemployed, persons with severe disabilities). Blind persons and persons with disability over 80% are exempted from the tax.

Capital gains tax (φόρος αυτόματου υπερτιμήματος)

Properties purchased or donated after 1st January 2006 are subject to a capital gains tax. The tax is formally imposed on the seller, and is levied on the difference between the purchase and the sales price of a property. The tax rate is 20% for properties owned for less than five years, 10%


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for properties owned for six to 15 years, 5% for properties owned for 16 to 25 years and 0% for properties owned for more than 25 years. Capital gains tax was abolished on 31st December 2009.

Real estate transfer tax (φόρος μεταβίβασης ακινήτου)

The transfer of property is taxed according to cadastral values. In 2005-09 the tax rate was 7% for the first €15,000, and 9% for the remainder. These rates increased by 2% when the property was situated in an area covered by a public fire brigade. Since 1st January 2010 the tax rates became 8% for the first €20,000, and 10% for the remainder and the 2% increase in rates when the property is situated in an area covered by a public fire brigade was abolished. A 3% municipality tax on real estate transfer tax is also applicable.

For first-time buyers of a primary residence (house / flat) taxation rules apply for values above €75,000. The tax-free value is raised to €115,000 for married couples, to €138,000 for couples with one child, €161,000 for couples with two children, €196,000 for couples with three children and so on.

Since 1st January 2008 taxation on first-time buyers of a primary residence was abolished for residences up to 200 m². 25 additional m² were added for each dependent child of the household. 11% tax is paid for the remainder.

Since 1st January 2010 for first-time buyers of a primary residence taxation rules apply for values above €200,000. The tax-free value is raised to €250,000 for married couples, €275,000 for couples with one child, €300,000 for couples with two children and €330,000 for couples with three children. The tax-free value is increased by €30,000 for each child after the third.

After 1st January 2006 only properties purchased or donated for the first time are subject to real estate transfer tax. Sellers of properties that have already been sold or donated in the past are subject to capital gains tax plus an additional 1% transaction fee on the cadastral value of the property.

Additional tax on rental income (συμπληρωματικός φόρος εισοδήματος από μισθώματα)

In addition to its taxation as personal or corporate income, rental income is also subject to a 1.5% tax, increased to 3% for rentals exceeding 300m² and for rentals belonging to corporations. The amount of additional tax may not exceed total liability in terms of personal or corporate income tax. For more information, see section 2.8.

1% extraordinary contribution (έκτακτη εισφορά 1%)

This emergency measure applied only for 2010. Individuals with 2009 net taxable incomes exceeding €100,000 were 1% taxed. For more information, see section 2.9.

Pensioners’ solidarity contribution (εισφορά αλληλεγγύης συνταξιούχων)

Since 1st August 2010 main pensions exceeding €1,400 per month are subject to taxation. The tax rates vary from 3% to 10%. For more information, see section 2.10.

Additional pensioners’ solidarity contribution (αυξημένη εισφορά αλληλεγγύης συνταξιούχων)

Since 1st August 2011 pensioners below 60 with main pensions exceeding €1,700 per month are subject to taxation. The tax rates vary from 6% to 10%. For more information, see section 2.11.

Pensioners’ solidarity contribution for supplementary pensions (εισφορά αλληλεγγύης επικουρικών συντάξεων)

Since 1st August 2011 supplementary pensions exceeding €300 per month are subject to taxation. The tax rates vary from 3% to 10%. For more information, see section 2.12.


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Solidarity contribution (εισφορά αλληλεγγύης)

This emergency measure applied retrospectively from 2010 onwards. Individuals with taxable incomes exceeding €12,000 are 1% - 4% taxed. For more information, see section 2.13.

Self-employed and liberal professions’ contribution (τέλος επιτηδεύματος)

This is a special levy on self-employed and liberal professions, introduced in 2010. It amounts from €300 to €500 per year. For more information, see section 2.14.

Inheritance tax (φόρος κληρονομιάς)

Property and other assets transferred as gifts and bequests are subject to inheritance tax. The tax rates vary according to the amount of inheritance and the degree of the relationship between taxpayer and donor.

Regional and municipal taxes (δημοτικά τέλη ακίνητης περιουσίας)

A number of individual taxes and duties are paid to local authorities, at rates set locally. In Athens, a tax of 0.035%, collected with electricity bills, applies to the cadastral values of all flats and houses.

Excise duties (φόροι κατανάλωσης)

Special consumption taxes apply for alcohol, tobacco and fuel.

• Scope and scale

Table 1.18 Taxes: personal income tax; taxpayers 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Tax filers excl. Dependants 8,169,236 8,216,232 8,246,361 8,342,160 8,451,733

Main earner 5,480,354 5,530,427 5,598,885 5,655,100 5,694,978 Spouse 2,688,882 2,685,805 2,647,476 2,687,060 2,756,755 As % of population 73.71 73.43 73.12 73.27 75.06

Tax filers incl. Dependants 10,489,084 10,546,271 10,583,892 10,575,993 10,794,979 As % of population 94.64 94.80 94.74 94.31 95.87

Tax filers reporting >0 income 6,790,981 6,865,612 6,940,190 7,150,805 7,142,986 Main earner 5,023,355 5,069,759 5,128,009 5,323,785 5,315,328 Spouse 1,767,626 1,795,853 1,812,181 1,827,020 1,827,658 As % of tax filers 83.10 84.04 84.96 87.03 84.52 As % of population 61.50 61.95 62.38 63.77 63.43

Tax filers paying >0 tax 2,486,784 2,440,168 2,631,946 2,796,653 2,849,247 Main earner 1,983,047 1,945,570 2,097,124 2,222,976 2,246,730 Spouse 503,737 494,598 534,822 573,677 602,517 As % of tax filers 30.40 29.87 32.22 34.04 33.71 As % of population 22.50 22.02 23.66 24.94 25.30

Source: Own elaboration of data derived from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (General Secretariat for Information Systems).


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Table 1.19 Tax receipts (2005-2009) 2005 2006 2007 2008[p] 2009[p] Million € Total tax revenue 42,615 45,799 47,452 50,085 51,268

Direct taxes 17,364 18,513 19,148 20,863 20,224 Personal income tax 8,315 9,282 9,768 10,816 9,398 Corporate income tax 4,207 4,414 4,813 4,211 3,149 Interest income tax 439 492 635 n/a n/a Large property tax[a] 236 227 315 n/a n/a Inheritance tax 141 137 133 n/a n/a

Indirect taxes 25,251 27,286 28,304 30,222 31,044 Value added tax 14,855 16,134 14,480 18,243 17,374 Excise duties 6,242 6,766 6,846 9,048 9,330

% of GDP Total tax revenue 20.25 20.23 19.84 20.94 21.59

Direct taxes 8.25 8.18 8.01 8.72 8.52 Personal income tax 3.95 4.10 4.08 4.52 3.96 Corporate income tax 2.00 1.95 2.01 1.76 1.33 Interest income tax 0.21 0.22 0.27 n/a n/a Large property tax[a] 0.11 0.10 0.13 n/a n/a Inheritance tax 0.07 0.06 0.06 n/a n/a

Indirect taxes 12.00 12.05 11.84 12.64 13.07 Value added tax 7.06 7.13 6.05 7.63 7.32 Excise duties 2.97 2.99 2.86 3.78 3.93

Notes: [a] Large property tax was replaced by Single property fee (ETAK) in 2008. [p] Provisional data. Source: Ministry of Finance, National Budget Reports 2005-07, 2010, 2011.


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2. SIMULATION OF TAXES AND BENEFITS IN EUROMOD

2.1 Scope of simulation

EUROMOD is a cross-country comparative benefit-tax model. The model simulates a variety of taxes and benefits. However, not all taxes and benefits mentioned in section 1 are simulated. Some are entirely beyond the scope of the model, and are not included either in the EUROMOD input database or as output variables. Others are impossible to simulate accurately with the available data, but are included in the database and may be chosen as components of output variables (even if the relevant policy rules may not be changed by the model). Tables 2.1 and 2.1 classify the main tax and benefit instruments according to how each is treated in EUROMOD, and provide a brief explanation as to why the instrument is not fully simulated when this is the case.

In the case of Greece, we have been able to simulate four retirement benefits related to current conditions (social pension, pensioners’ social solidarity benefit, lump-sum benefit to civil servants, lump-sum benefit to low paid pensioners), the abolishment of 13th and 14th pension and their replacement with bonuses, the upper limit set in public sector employees’ monthly earnings, the suspension in the provision of OEK housing benefit in 2010, unemployment benefits (unemployment assistance for older workers, and, partially, unemployment insurance), family benefits (3rd child benefit, large family benefit, income support to families with children in compulsory education), lump-sum heating benefit, various taxes as well as social insurance contributions for a large number of occupational categories.


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Table 2.1 Simulation of benefits in EUROMOD

Variable name

Treatment in EUROMOD Main limitations

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Retirement benefits/pensions Main old age pension poa00 I I I I I 1 Supplementary old age pension poacm I I I I I 1 Other minor old age pensions poaot I I I I I 1 Survivors pension psuwd I I I I I 1 Orphans pension psuor I I I I I 1 Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit boact_s S S S S S Social pension boanc_s PS PS PS PS PS Abolishment of 13th and 14th pension and compensations pxp_s - - - S S Lump-sum benefit to civil servants bcsxp_s - - S - - Lump-sum benefit to low paid pensioners boaxp_s - - - - S

Unemployment benefits Unemployment insurance bunct_s S S S S S 1 Unemployment assistance for older workers bunnc_s S S S S S Other (minor) unemployment benefits bunot I I I I I 2

Family benefits Large family benefit bfalg_s S S S S S 3rd child benefit bchlg_s S S S S S Lump sum €2,000 birth grant bchba_s S S S S S Lifetime pension for mothers of many children pfa I I I I I 2 Civil servants family benefit bfacs I I I I I 2 Income support to families with children in compulsory education bched_s S S S S S Other (minor) family benefits bfaot I I I I I 2

Sickness – maternity benefits Sickness benefits bhl Ι Ι Ι I I 1 Maternity benefits bmact I I I I I 1

Disability benefits Disability pensions (contributory) pdi I I I I I 1 Disability benefits (non-contributory) bdi I I I I I 2

Housing benefits bho I I I I I 2 Lump-sum heating benefit bhoxp_s - - S - - Scholarships and grants bed I I I I I 2 Other social assistance benefits bsaot I I I I I 2 Minimum wage yem S S S S S Notes: “-”: policy did not exist in that year;

“E”: excluded from the model as it is neither included in the micro-data nor simulated; “I”: included in the micro-data but not simulated; “PS”: partially simulated as some of its relevant rules are not simulated; “S”: simulated although some minor or very specific rules may not be simulated; “1”: no data on contribution history;

“2”: data available not sufficient to simulate all eligibility conditions.


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Table 2.2 Simulation of taxes and social contributions in EUROMOD

Variable name(s)

Treatment in EUROMOD Why not fully simulated? 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Taxes

Personal income tax tin00_s S S S S S (except for some

tax credits) Corporate income tax - E E E E E 1 Interest income tax tinktdt_s S S S S S Value added tax - E E E E E 1 Large property tax tpr I I I I I 2 Real estate transfer tax - E E E E E 1 Emergency property tax - - - - - E 2 Additional tax on rental income tinrt_s S S S S S 1% extraordinary contribution txcxt_s - - - S S Solidarity contribution txc00_s - - - S S Pensioners’ solidarity contribution txcpe_s - - - S S Pensioners’ solidarity contribution for supplementary pensions txcpe_s - - - - S Additional pensioners’ solidarity contribution txcpe_s - - - - S Self-employed and liberal professions contribution txcse_s - - - - S Capital gains tax - E E E E E 1 Regional and municipal taxes

- E E E E E 1

Excise duties - E E E E E 1 Social insurance contributions rules simulated Employers tscer*_s

Private sector S S S S S IKA Employees tscee*_s

Private sector S S S S S IKA

Civil servants S S S S S civil servants

scheme Public enterprise workers S S S S S ΤΑΠ-ΟΤΕ Banking employees S S S S S ΕΤΕ Liberal professions S S S S S ΤΣΑΥ

Self-employed tscse*_s liberal professions S S S S S ΤΣΑΥ own account workers S S S S S ΤΕΒΕ other self-employed S S S S S ΤΑΕ

Farmers tscfr*_s S S S S S ΟΓΑ Pensioners tscbesi_s S S S S S Notes: “-”: policy did not exist in that year;

“E”: policy is excluded from the model’s scope as it is neither included in the microdata nor simulated by Euromod; “PS”: policy is partially simulated as some of its relevant rules are not simulated; “S”: policy is simulated although some minor or very specific rules may not be simulated; “1”: no data on contribution history;

“2”: data available not sufficient to simulate all eligibility conditions.


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2.2 Order of simulation and interdependencies

• Order of simulation in 2005-2011

Table 2.3 EUROMOD Spine: order of simulation, 2005-2011 Policy Description Main output yem Minimum wage yem pxp Abolishment of 13th/14th pensions and compensations - since 2010;

upper limit in civil servants’ pay; suspension of OEK housing benefit (2010 only)

pxp_s, yem, bho

tscer Employer social insurance contributions - private sector (IKA) tscer*_s tscee Employee social insurance contributions - private sector (IKA) tscee*_s tscee01 Employee social insurance contributions - liberal professions (ΤΣΑΥ) tscee01*_s tscee02 Employee social insurance contributions - banking employees (ETE) tscee02*_s tscee03 Employee social insurance contributions - public enterprises (ΤΑΠ-ΟΤΕ) tscee03*_s tscee04 Employee social insurance contributions - civil servants tscee*_s tscseA Self-employed social insurance contributions - (TEBE up to 2006) tscseA*_s tscseB Self-employed social insurance contributions - (OAEE from 2007) tscseB*_s tscse01 Self-employed social insurance contributions - liberal professions (ΤΣΑΥ) tscse01*_s tscse02 Self-employed social insurance contributions - (TAE up to 2006) tscse02*_s tscfr Social insurance contributions - farmers (ΟΓΑ) tscfr*_s bunct Unemployment insurance benefit bunct_s bchlg 3rd child benefit bchlg_s bfalg Large family benefit bfalg_s bchba Birth grant - since 2006 bchba_s boanc Social pension boanc_s tscbesi Social insurance contributions - pensioners - 1st run (with EKAΣ=0) tscbesi_s tin00 Personal income tax - 1st run (with EKAΣ =0) tin*_s boact Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit boact_s bunnc Unemployment assistance for older workers bunnc_s tscbesi Social insurance contributions - pensioners - 2nd run tscbesi_s tin00 Personal income tax - 2nd run tin*_s tinwh Withholding tax on benefits tinwh_s bched Income support to families with children in compulsory education bched_s tinktdt Interest income tax tinktdt_s tinrt Additional tax on rental income tinrt_s bhoxp Lump sum heating benefit - only in 2009 bhoxp_s bcsxp Lump sum benefit to civil servants - only in 2009 bcsxp_s boaxp Lump sum benefit to low-paid pensioners – only in 2011 boaxp_s

txcpe

Pensioners' solidarity contribution - since 1st August 2010 Pensioners' solidarity contribution for supplementary pensions - since 1st September 2011 Additional pensioners' solidarity contribution - since 1st September 2011 txcpe_s

txcse Self-employed and liberal professions contribution – since 2010 txcse_s txcxt 1% extraordinary contribution - only in 2010 txcxt_s txc00 Solidarity contribution - since 2010 txc00_s

Minimum wage is simulated first as it changes employment income for those observed below the legal limit (although this policy is switched off in the baseline scenario). This is followed by the abolishment of 13th and 14th pensions and compensations. Employer and employee SIC – which are levied on employment income – self-employed (including farmers) SIC and unemployment insurance benefits are simulated afterwards. Those policies are based on individuals as the tax unit, so that the income concept for determining the head of the unit is not


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relevant. The only exception is a supplement of unemployment insurance benefit for dependent family members and here original income is used to determine the head of the unit. This is also the case for interest income tax, additional tax on rental income, lump-sum heating benefit, lump-sum benefit to civil servants, lump-sum benefit to low-paid pensioners, pensioners' solidarity contributions, 1% extraordinary contribution and solidarity contribution. For all other policies using a tax unit comprised of more than one individual apart from 3rd family benefit and large family benefit, original income together with replacement incomes (ils_origrepy) are used to determine the head of the unit. For those two family benefits, in order to deal with multi-generational households, priority is given to people with three and more children (and without parents). The simulated benefit is then reallocated to the woman of the household.

Further characteristics which affect the order of simulations:

• Unemployment insurance benefit is included in the means-test of social pension and affects the calculation of unemployment assistance for older workers.

• Social pension is subject to pensioners’ SIC. • Means-test for EKAS is net of employee and pensioners’ SIC and income tax. At the

same time EKAS is also subject to pensioners’ SIC and income tax. Therefore, pensioners’ SIC and income tax policies are run twice: first with EKAS set to zero, after which EKAS is calculated, and then again with EKAS final values. Since 2008 EKAS is no longer subject to income tax, so income tax can be run only once while pensioners’ SIC is still run twice.

• Employee, self-employed and pensioners’ SIC are deducted from the income tax base. • Means-test for benefit for families with children at school is based on taxable income. • 3rd child benefit and large family benefit are subject to withholding income tax on

benefits. • EKAS, 3rd child benefit and large family benefit are included in the means-test of

unemployment assistance for older workers. The latter became taxable in 2010, therefore, requiring the income tax policy to be run twice again.

2.3 Minimum wage

EΓΣΣΕ sets the overall minimum wages for private sector white and blue-collar workers. The amount of minimum pay varies depending on a worker’s years of service and family status.

• Eligibility conditions

EΓΣΣΕ only covers private sector workers. Minimum wages for functionaries and employees in the public sector, state-law entities and local government, permanent officers of the armed forces, Hellenic Police Force, Fire Brigade and Coast Guard are set, not by collective bargaining, but by governmental legislative regulations. These regulations are not simulated in EUROMOD. The definition of white and blue-collar workers also excludes banking employees, as these are covered by more favorable sectoral agreements (also not simulated in EUROMOD).


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• Minimum wage amounts

EΓΣΣΕ’s 2005-11 minimum wages are presented below:

Table 2.4 Minimum daily wage of blue-collar workers Min daily wage (€) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009-11 Seniority Unmarried Up to 3 years 25.56 27.18 29.39 30.40 33.04 4 to 6 years 26.51 28.17 30.47 31.52 34.25 7 to 9 years 27.78 29.52 31.93 33.03 35.89 10 to 12 years 29.03 30.86 33.37 34.52 37.51 13 to 15 years 30.30 32.21 34.83 36.03 39.15 16 to 18 years 31.56 33.55 36.28 37.53 40.78 More than 18 years 31.56 33.55 36.28 39.05 42.43

Seniority Married Up to 3 years 28.12 29.89 32.33 33.45 36.34 4 to 6 years 29.06 30.89 33.41 34.56 37.56 7 to 9 years 30.33 32.24 34.87 36.07 39.20 10 to 12 years 31.59 33.58 36.31 37.56 40.82 13 to 15 years 32.86 34.92 37.77 39.07 42.46 16 to 18 years 34.12 36.26 39.22 40.57 44.09 More than 18 years 34.12 36.26 39.22 42.09 45.74

Table 2.5 Minimum monthly wage of white-collar workers Min monthly wage (€) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009-11 Seniority Unmarried Up to 3 years 572.30 608.32 657.89 680.59 739.56 4 to 6 years 619.97 659.00 712.70 737.29 801.17 7 to 9 years 676.33 718.91 777.49 804.31 874.01 More than 9 years 732.69 778.82 842.28 871.34 946.84

Seniority Married Up to 3 years 629.53 669.16 723.68 748.65 813.52 4 to 6 years 677.20 719.84 778.49 805.35 875.13 7 to 9 years 733.56 779.75 843.28 872.37 947.96 More than 9 years 789.92 839.65 908.07 939.40 1,020.80

• EUROMOD notes

Minimum wage is simulated in the model, except for civil servants, workers in public enterprises and banking employees, but switched off in the baseline (from the spine). In case someone reports lower earnings (yem) compared to the minimum wage, adjusted for the months receiving employment income (yemmy) and hours worked last week (lhw) but ignoring overtime hours (i.e. above 40 hours per week), the earnings are increased up to the minimum level.


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2.4 Social benefits

2.4.1 Social pension

This is a non-contributory, income-tested pension. It is reserved for people over 65 years of age who lack independent means of support.


Beneficiaries must be 65 years old and over. They must not be in receipt of another pension or, if they or their spouses are, its value should be lower than that of ΟΓΑ basic pension.

• Income test

The benefit is granted if personal income does not exceed the benefit amount itself and if family income does not exceed twice the benefit amount itself (i.e. €2,980 and €5,960 per year in 2005 respectively – that is 14 times monthly rate).2

For the calculation of personal (and family) income the following income sources are taken into account: employment, self-employment and other market income, income from rent, private pensions, investment income, maintenance payments received, minor family benefits, sickness and maternity benefits, unemployment insurance and minor unemployment benefits, disability pensions, lifetime pension for mothers of many-children as well as all sorts of retirement benefits/pensions apart from EKAΣ.

• Benefit amount

The pension is payable 14 times a year to all eligible beneficiaries. Supplements are paid for a dependent spouse aged less than or equal to 65 and children aged less than or equal to 18, worth €3.1 and €6.2 per month respectively. The 2005-11 social pension rates are indicated below:

Table 2.6 Social pension rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Social pension 212.85 227.75 277.75 330.00 330.00 360.00 360.00

Applications reporting incomes above the threshold are rejected. In other words, rather than the benefit being gradually reduced as (other) income rises, it is fully withdrawn. Therefore, either the full amount is paid or no benefit at all.

• Definitions

The unit of analysis comprises the head, the spouse and own children aged up to 18.

• EUROMOD notes

Not receiving other pensions is modelled by excluding recipients of pension from OΓA. If non-take up modelling is activated then social pension is simulated only for those actually observed in receipt. This is however limited to simulations using input datasets based on SILC2006 and SILC 2007.

2 Therefore, it is possible for one spouse to be eligible for social pension if the other spouse receives ΟΓΑ basic pension (same amount as social pension), provided s/he has no other income.


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2.4.2 Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit

This benefit, known as ΕΚΑΣ, is an income-tested supplement aimed at recipients of old age and survivor pension aged 60 and over, or recipients of invalidity pension or orphan’s pension irrespective of age. It is restricted to those receiving a contributory social insurance pension; ΟΓΑ pensioners thus are excluded.


Beneficiaries must be 60 and over if in receipt of an old age pension or a survivor pension. There is no age condition if in receipt of an invalidity or orphans pension. Recipients of a farmer basic pension or a social pension are excluded.

• Income test – benefit amount

Three income concepts are assessed separately:

1. personal net income from retirement benefits and employment earnings

2. personal taxable income from all sources

3. family taxable income.

The annual income thresholds3 and the monthly benefit rates to which they corresponded in 2005-11 are shown in Table 2.7. Until 2009 the benefit was payable 14 times a year. Since 2010 it is payable 12 times a year.

Table 2.7 EKAΣ income thresholds and benefit rates (2005-2011) Pension income thresholds (€ per year) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (a) Pension income and earnings for:

Full rate 6,215.12 6,525.91 6,786.93 7,058.41 7,340.67 7,607.54 7,716.00 Reduced

6,458.88 6,781.86 7,053.12 7,335.25 7,628.58 7,905.51 8,018.00

Reduced

6,621.33 6,952.43 7,230.51 7,519.74 7,820.45 8,104.76 8,220.00 Reduced

6,824.25 7,165.71 7,452.32 7,750.42 8,060.35 8,353.38 8,472.00

Reduced

- - - - - - 9,200.00 (b) All personal

7,961.87 8,360.00 8,694.38 9,042.16 9,403.68 9,745.62 9,884.00

(c) Family

12,389.65 13,009.20 13,529.50 14,070.73 14,633.00 15,165.39 15,381.00 Benefit rates (€ per month)

Full rate 149.67 160.15 195.15 230.00 230.00 230.00 230,00 Reduced rate A 112.25 120.11 146.36 172.50 172.50 172.50 172,50 Reduced

74.84 80.08 97.58 115.00 115.00 115.00 115,00

Reduced

37.42 40.04 48.79 57.50 57.50 57.50 57,50 Reduced

- - - - - - 30,00

3 Note that assessment is based on tax returns of the year before the application, for incomes earned two years before the application (that is the most recent year for which a tax return is available). Since information on past incomes is not incorporated in EUROMOD, the income conditions are treated as if they referred to incomes earned in the application year.


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• Definitions

The income concept used for the first income condition comprises employment earnings, sickness benefits, civil servants’ family benefits and social insurance pensions of all types except farmer basic pension and social pension; net of employee social insurance contributions and income tax.

The income concept used for the second and third condition is the tax base. The tax base is defined as taxable income less employee and self-employed social insurance contributions. This is analysed in section 2.6.5.

The family unit is the same as for income tax purposes, i.e. it comprises the head, the spouse and dependent children. The latter are defined as: (a) unmarried, aged under 18, (b) unmarried, aged under 20 and registered in ΟΑΕΔ as unemployed, (c) unmarried, aged under 25 and enrolled in post secondary or tertiary education or fulfilling their military service, (d) unmarried, aged under 27, enrolled in post secondary or tertiary education and registered in ΟΑΕΔ as unemployed, (e) suffering from any kind of disability over 67% irrespective of age.

• EUROMOD notes

Dependent child definition used in the model is simplified and excludes military condition and condition (d) (the latter is not considered to be followed in practice anyway).

2.4.3 3rd child benefit

This benefit is targeted to families with a third child aged 6 years or less.


Access to 3rd child benefit is limited to families with three (or more) children until the third child reaches the age of six.

• Income test

The income test for access to 3rd child benefit was abolished in 2002.

• Benefit amount

The 2005-11 3rd child benefit rates are indicated below:

Table 2.8 3rd child benefit rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 3rd child benefit 154.27 159.82 164.45 170.86 174.28 178.81 177.00

• Definitions

The family comprises the head, the spouse and own children irrespective of age.

2.4.4 Large family benefit

This benefit is targeted to families with four or more children (of any age and irrespective of whether they live together with their parents or not). Since 2006 it is also paid to lone parents with three children, disabled parents (over 67%) with three children and children orphaned from both parents if they are two or more. Since 2008 large family benefit is also provided to families with three children.


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• Income test

The income test for access to 3rd child benefit was abolished in 2002.

• Benefit amount

The 2005-11 large family benefit rates are indicated below:

Table 2.9 Large family benefit rates (2005-2011), € per month, per eligible child 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Large family benefit 38.57 39.95 41.10 42.71 43.55 44.68 44.00

Note that eligible children are those (a) unmarried and aged less than 23 years old or (b) suffering from any kind of disability over 67% irrespective of age. However, the third child is not eligible if parents are already receiving 3rd child benefit. Moreover, households receiving “lifetime pension for mothers of many children” are also ineligible.

• Definitions


• EUROMOD notes

We have to note that, due to the fact that the benefit is provided to beneficiaries irrespective of whether their children live in the same household or not, large family benefit is also granted to persons with observed but not simulated benefit receipt.

2.4.5 Lump sum €2,000 birth grant

This is a lump sum birth grant, introduced in 2006.


Access to the benefit is limited to mothers giving birth to a third child or to each child over the third.

• Benefit amount

The benefit rate in 2006-11 was €2,000 per child (lump sum).

• Definitions


2.4.6 Income support to families with children in compulsory education

This is a non-contributory, income based benefit, introduced in 2002.


It is paid to families with children aged 6 to 16 on the condition that they are in compulsory education.

• Income test

The annual taxable income of the family must not exceed €3,000. The definition of taxable income is provided in section 2.5.4.


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• Benefit amount

In 2005-11, the benefit was worth €300 a year per child.

• Definitions

The unit of analysis for the income test comprises the head, the spouse and own unmarried children aged up to 18 or up to 25 if in upper secondary or tertiary education. For the eligibility condition, children’s definition is narrowed to those aged 6 to 16 and in compulsory education.

• EUROMOD notes

As we have no information about the educational level of people below 16, the benefit was assigned to persons whose current educational status was imputed as “primary”, “lower secondary” or “upper secondary”. Additionally, we have extended the family concept to the so-called loose children (i.e. a child without parents specified).

2.4.7 Unemployment assistance for older workers

This benefit, introduced in 2002, was aimed partly to fill the coverage gap left by contributory unemployment insurance. Note that the latter explicitly excludes the long-term unemployed, as eligibility expires after 12 months at the latest. No general unemployment assistance scheme exists.


Unemployment assistance for older workers is targeted to long-term unemployed workers aged 45-65 on low incomes.

• Income test

The annual income threshold in 2005-11 was €5,000 plus €587 for every child. Once family income is equal or higher than that, the benefit is fully withdrawn. Incomes that are taken into account for the calculation of the threshold are: employment and self-employment income, other market income (received by children), income from rent and private transfers, education allowances, civil servants’ family benefit, disability pensions, ΟΓΑ large family benefits as well as all sorts of retirement benefits/pensions apart from social pension.

• Benefit amount

The monthly benefit rate in 2005-11, paid 12 times per year, was €200.

• Definitions

The unit of analysis comprises the head, the spouse and own children aged up to 18.

• Accounting for non-take-up

Non-take-up for this unemployment benefit is known to be rife.4 In order to account for that fact, the non-take-up rate implied from the dataset (i.e. 5%) is applied. This rate is also in accordance with the one estimated from administrative data. Hence, we assume that that the benefit is only claimed by 5% of simulated recipients. We have to note that only a few cases

4 When the benefit was first introduced (2002), the official prediction was that the beneficiaries would amount to 35,000; the benefit reached 711 persons instead.


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remain eligible for unemployment assistance for older workers after making adjustments for non take-up and, hence, the result is statistically not reliable.

The non-take up adjustment for unemployment assistance can be easily omitted from model calculations by switching off the corresponding function in the policy sheet or together with all other non-take up adjustments in the model by setting the master switch for non take-up off in the spine (i.e. policy nontakeup_el).

• EUROMOD notes

Being long-term unemployed is modelled as being unemployed in the current year (lunmy > 0) and not in receipt of the contributory unemployment benefit (bunct_s = 0). Benefit amount is additionally adjusted with the number of months in receipt (lunmy_s, defined in the contributory unemployment benefit policy).

2.4.8 Unemployment insurance benefit

This benefit is paid to dependent workers who are involuntarily unemployed, capable and available for work and registered with an ΟΑΕΔ employment office. In order to receive the benefit, they have to be insured and have a specific contributions history.


Person must have been insured with any social insurance fund, and have accumulated the following contribution days:

• First-time claimants need to have worked and paid contributions for either (i) 80 days per year over the last two years, of which at least 125 days must be in the last 14 months excluding the last two months, or (ii) 200 days in the last two years excluding the last two months, of which at least 80 days in each of the last two years.

• Second-time claimants need to have worked and paid contributions for 125 days over the last 14 months excluding the last two months.

• Seasonal workers need to have worked and paid contributions for 100 days over the last 12 months.

• Construction workers and fishermen need to have worked and paid contributions for 100 days over the last 14 months.

• Benefit amount

The benefit rates in 2005-2011 are indicated in Table 2.10. The rate is raised by 10% for each dependent family member up to the third. The benefit is payable for at most 12 months, average duration being seven months. A part of the benefit is still payable if the person finds an occasional or part-time employment of up to three non-consecutive days per week.

Table 2.10 Unemployment insurance benefit rates (2005-2011), € per month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Unemployment insurance benefit 311.25 311.25 367.38 404.11 454.25 454.25 454.25

• Benefit duration

The benefit’s duration is a function of contributory record according to the table below:


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Table 2.11 Duration of unemployment insurance benefit Number of contributory days

Benefit duration in months

General category Seasonal workers Construction workers Over the last 14 months excl. the last 2 months Over the last 12 months Over the last 14 months 125-149[a] 100-149[a] 100-149[a] 5 150-179[b] 150-179[b] 150-179[b] 6 180-219[c] 180-219[c] 180-219[c] 8 220-249 220-249 220-249 10 250+ 250+ 250+ 12 210+ if aged 49+ 210+ if aged 49+ 210+ if aged 49+ 12

Notes: [a] or 200 days over the last 2 years [b] or 250 days over the last 2 years [c] or 300 days over the last 2 years

• Definitions

The definition of family members includes: a) the spouse, b) unmarried children up to 18 or up to 26 if in full time education or up to 24 if unemployed, c) the parents of the beneficiary, d) unmarried, orphan grandchildren and siblings up to 18. In order to be considered as dependent, the person has to be registered to the family health booklet of the unemployed.

• EUROMOD notes

The benefit is modelled in such a way that those currently employed can be also covered if needed (e.g. to simulate their entitlement if they become unemployed, for replacement rates calculations).

Unemployment duration (lunmy_s) is set equal to the observed unemployment duration (lunmy) or observed number of months in receipt of unemployment benefit (bunctmy), whichever is longer. If modelling unemployment benefit for those currently employed, unemployment duration is set equal to the reported number of months in employment in the current year (liwmy), once contribution history (see the next step) is modelled. It is effectively also assumed that unemployment spells start in the reference year. Simulated unemployment duration is also used for unemployment assistance for older workers.

Modelled contribution history is based on the reported number of months in employment (liwmy), controlling for the total number of months in work (liwwh).

• For those currently employed (yem != 0 & lunmy_s = 0 & bunct = 0), this is used. • For those currently unemployed (lunmy_s > 0) and in receipt (bunct > 0), this is set at

least equal to the minimum qualifying period. • For those currently unemployed (lunmy_s > 0) and not in receipt (bunct = 0), this is set

to zero.

At this point, people who are unemployed (lunmy_s > 0) and with sufficient contribution history are considered eligible. It is assumed that all of them belong to the general category, are involuntarily unemployed and capable and available for work (there is a variable in the SILC data identifying the latter but only filled in for those currently unemployed).

Benefit duration (bunctmy_s) is derived from the underlying dataset.


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The condition for dependent family member (being registered to the family health booklet) is proxied by the lack of certain sources of income (employment income, self-employment income and income from state pensions).

Finally, the benefit amount is adjusted with the number of months in receipt.

2.4.9 Lump-sum heating benefit (only valid in 2009)

This is a non-taxed emergency benefit, paid only in 2009 to vulnerable population groups.


The benefit was paid to ΟΓΑ pensioners as well as to the recipients of either pensioners’ social solidarity benefit, non-contributory disability benefits, social pension or unemployment benefits.

• Benefit amount

Its amount was €100, €150 or €200, depending on the residential place of beneficiaries (southern part of the country, midlands and northern part of the country respectively).

• Definitions

The unit of analysis comprises individuals. The benefits used for the eligibility condition are the following: ΟΓΑ old age pension, pensioners’ social solidarity benefit, social pension, unemployment insurance benefit, unemployment assistance for older workers, other unemployment benefits and non-contributory disability benefits.

• EUROMOD notes

The simulated benefit amount in EUROMOD was set to €150 for all of the eligible individuals due to lack of information about the NUTS-3 level of residence (prefectures) of inhabitants in the sample.

2.4.10 Lump-sum benefit to civil servants (only valid in 2009)

This is a means-tested emergency benefit, only paid in 2009.


The benefit was paid to civil servants, both at work and retired (lump-sum).

• Income test - benefit amount

The rates of the benefit were €500 for retired civil servants with gross monthly pension up to €800 or working civil servants with salaries up to €1,500 per month (pension and salary rates as in 31st December 2008) and €300 for retired civil servants with gross monthly pension between €800.01 and €1,100 or working civil servants with salaries between €1,500.01 and €1,700 per month (pension and salary rates as in 31st December 2008).

• Definitions

The unit of analysis comprises individuals. The concept used for the eligibility condition was the receipt of basic old age pension (poa00) from the civil servants’ social insurance fund (lpmrf=7) or the receipt of employment income (yem) of people contributing to the civil servants’ social insurance fund (lpmfc=7).


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• EUROMOD notes

In EUROMOD, the pension rate used for the income test was the one applicable in 2009.

2.4.11 Abolishment of 13th and 14th pensions and compensations (valid from 2010)

Until 2009 retirement pensions were paid 14 times per year. Since 1st January 2010 they are paid 12 times per year, with the exception of social pension, farmers’ basic pension, invalidity pensions and pensions that do not exceed €400 per month. Christmas, Easter and vacations bonuses were established for pensioners fulfilling specific age and income criteria.


Compensations are only paid to pensioners above 60.


Pensioners with average pensions plus bonuses less than €2,500 per month, whose 13th and 14th pensions are cut, receive €200 as Easter bonus, €200 as vacations bonus and €400 as Christmas bonus. If average pensions plus bonuses exceed €2,500 per month, bonuses are provided up to the approach of that threshold.

• Definitions

The unit of analysis comprises individuals.

2.4.12 Lump sum benefit to low-paid pensioners (only valid in 2011)

This is a means-tested emergency benefit, only paid in 2011 as a lump-sum.


The benefit was reserved for people over 60 years of age that were not in receipt of any ΟΓΑ pension.


The benefit’s income thresholds and rates are presented in the table below:

Table 2.12 Lump sum benefit to low-paid pensioners Income thresholds (€ per year) 2011 (a) personal income

full rate 7,000 reduced rate A 8,500 reduced rate B 10,500

(b) family taxable income full rate 12,000 reduced rate A 14,500 reduced rate B 16,500

Benefit rates (€ per month) full rate 300 reduced rate A 200 reduced rate B 100


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• Definitions

The family unit is the same as for income tax purposes, i.e. it comprises the head, the spouse and dependent children.

2.5 Social contributions

Social insurance in Greece, as explained earlier, is highly fragmented. In view of that, attempting to simulate all possible cases would be rather futile. Instead, each occupational category is represented by the largest social insurance fund for that category. This is shown in Table 22. Pensioners’ social contributions are also simulated.

• EUROMOD notes

Identifying contributors in the ”old” and “new” regimes, contributors in hazardous occupations, as well as the procedure for placing contributors in insurance classes for all self-employed workers, is explained in section 3.3.4.

Reference earnings (see more below) are equated to employment earnings reported in EU-SILC.

2.5.1 Employers

ΙΚΑ rules are used to simulate private sector employer social contributions, as shown in Table 2.13.

Table 2.13 Employer social contributions simulated (2005-2011)

• Upper threshold on earnings

The 2005-2011 upper earnings thresholds, applicable to both employers’ and employees’ social insurance contributions, are presented in Table 2.14.

• EUROMOD notes

IKA contribution rules are applied to all private sector employees and seamen (lpmfc=1).

Social insurance contributions (SIC) % of reference earnings

2005-2011 Case 1: general regime

Primary pension 13.33 Supplementary pension 3.00 Sickness insurance 5.10 Unemployment insurance (ΟΑΕΔ) 2.67 Family benefits (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.00 Housing and other benefits (ΟΑΕΔ, ΟΕΚ, Εργατική Εστία) 2.96 Total SIC: general regime 28.06

Case 2: hazardous occupations Primary pension 1.40 Supplementary pension 0.75 Extra SIC: hazardous occupations 2.15 Total SIC: hazardous occupations 30.21


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Upper threshold on earnings is adjusted with the number of months receiving employment income (yemmy).

2.5.2 Employees

2.5.2.1 Private sector employees

Workers insured with IKA pay social contributions at a flat rate of 16% of “reference earnings”. Reference earnings reflect the notional wage for every one of IKA’s 28 insurance classes where private sector employees are placed according to their actual earnings. Civil servants, employees in public enterprises and banking employees are covered by separate schemes.

Occupations that are officially classified as “hazardous” are subject to extra contributions at 3.45% of earnings. This is shown in Table 2.14 and further discussed in Section 3.

Table 2.14 Private sector employees’ social contributions simulated (2005-2011)

The 2005-2011 upper earnings thresholds are presented below:

Table 2.15 IKA upper earnings thresholds (2005-2011) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Workers first insured before 31 December 1992 2,140.50 2,226.00 2,315.00 2,384.50 2.432,25 2.432,25 2.432,25

Workers first insured after 1 January 1993 4,881.26 5,076.51 5,279.57 5,437.96 5.543,55 5.543,55 5.543,55

• EUROMOD notes

IKA contribution rules are applied to all private sector employees and seamen (lpmfc=1).

Upper threshold on earnings is adjusted with the number of months receiving employment income (yemmy).

Social insurance contributions (SIC) % of reference earnings

2005-2011 Case 1: general regime

Primary pension 6.67 Supplementary pension 3.00 Sickness insurance 2.55 Unemployment insurance (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.33 Family benefits (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.00 Housing and other benefits (ΟΑΕΔ, ΟΕΚ, OEE) 1.45 Total SIC: general regime 16.00

Case 2: hazardous occupations Primary pension 2.20 Supplementary pension 1.25 Extra SIC: hazardous occupations 3.45 Total SIC: hazardous occupations 19.45


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2.5.2.2 Civil servants

Civil servants’ total wage is the sum of the basic wage and of various allowances (for seniority etc). It is thought that such allowances comprise approximately 20% of a civil servant’s total earnings.5 Reference earnings (RE) are civil servants’ total wage. Different contribution rates apply for the basic wage (assumed to be equal to 80% of RE) and for the additional allowances (assumed to be equal to 20% of RE). Social contribution rates of civil servants are analysed in Table 2.16.

Table 2.16 Civil servants’ social contributions simulated (2005-2011)

Social insurance contributions (SIC)

2005-2010 2011 % of reference earnings

Rate Rate Derivation Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Primary pension 5.34% 5.34% 6.67% × (80% of RE) Supplementary pension (ΤΕΑΔΥ) 2.80% 2.80%

3% × (80% of RE) + 2% × (20% of RE)

Other benefits (ΜΤΠΥ) 3.40% 3.40% 4% × (80% of RE) + 1% × (20% of

RE) Sickness benefits (ΟΠΑΔ) 2.55% 2.55% 2.55% × (100% of RE) Separation payment (ΤΠΔΥ) 3.20% 3.20% 4% × (80% of RE) Unemployment benefits (OAEΔ) - 2.00% 2% × (100% of RE)

Total SIC 17.29% 19.29% Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime

Primary pension 6.67% 6.67% 6.67% × (100% of RE) Supplementary pension (ΤΕΑΔΥ) 3.00% 3.00% 3% × (100% of RE)

Other benefits (ΜΤΠΥ) 3.40% 3.40% 4% × (80% of RE) + 1% × (20% of

RE) Sickness insurance (ΟΠΑΔ) 2.55% 2.55% 2.55% × (100% of RE) Separation payment (ΤΠΔΥ) 4.00% 4.00% 4% × (100% of RE) Unemployment benefits (OAEΔ) - 2.00% 2% × (100% of RE)

Total SIC 19.62% 21.62%

2.5.2.3 Public enterprise workers

Those working in the public utilities are insured in a variety of enterprise-specific insurance schemes. Compared to IKA, these schemes generally levy higher contributions and provide more generous benefits. The rules simulated here are those applying to the social insurance fund of ΤΑΠ-ΟΤΕ. Employee social contributions at ΤΑΠ-ΟΤΕ are shown in Table 2.16. In 2008 the vast majority of public enterprise workers’ social insurance funds were merged with IKA. However, the merger did not affect contributions paid or benefits received.

Table 2.17 TAΠ-ΟΤΕ social contributions simulated (2005-2011)

Social insurance contributions (SIC) % of reference earnings 2005-10 2011

Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime Primary pension 11.00 11.00 Supplementary pension 3.00 3.00

5 “The salaries of civil servants in EU countries”, Journal of ΙΝΕ-ΓΣΕΕ, issue 79, Jan 2002.


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Sickness insurance 2.55 2.55 Additional benefits 7.00 7.00 Total SIC 23.55 23.55

Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime Primary pension 6.67 6.67 Supplementary pension 3.00 3.00 Sickness insurance 2.55 2.55 Separation payment 4.00 4.00 Unemployment insurance (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.33 1.83 Family benefits (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.00 1.00 Housing and other benefits (ΟΑΕΔ, ΟΕΚ, Εργατική Εστία) 1.45 1.45

Extra SIC: hazardous occupations 3.45 3.45 Total SIC: non hazardous occupations 20.00 20.50 Total SIC: hazardous occupations 23.45 23.95

2.5.2.4 Banking employees

Employees of (formerly) state-controlled banks6 are insured in separate social insurance funds, generally levying higher contributions and providing more generous benefits. The rules simulated here are those pertaining to the social insurance fund of the National Bank of Greece (ETE). Employee social contributions at ETE are shown in Table 2.18. In 2008 banking employees’ social insurance funds were merged with IKA. However, the merger did not affect contributions paid or benefits received.

Table 2.18 ETE social contributions simulated (2005-2011)

Social insurance contributions (SIC) % of reference earnings 2005-10 2011

Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime Primary pension 11.00 11.00 Supplementary pension 3.50 3.50 Sickness insurance 2.55 2.55 Unemployment insurance (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.33 1.33 Family benefits (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.00 1.00 Housing and other benefits (ΟΑΕΔ, ΟΕΚ, Εργατική Εστία) 1.45 1.45

Separation payment 4.50 4.50 Total SIC 25.33 25.33

Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime Primary pension 6.67 6.67 Supplementary pension 3.00 3.00 Sickness insurance 2.55 2.55 Unemployment insurance (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.33 1.83 Family benefits (ΟΑΕΔ) 1.00 1.00 Housing and other benefits (ΟΑΕΔ, ΟΕΚ, Εργατική Εστία) 1.45 1.45

Separation payment 4.00 4.00 Extra SIC: hazardous 3.45 3.45 Total SIC: non hazardous occupations 20.00 20.50 Total SIC: hazardous occupations 23.45 23.95

6 Although most of these banks have been partly or fully privatised since the early 1990s, this has not affected the special status enjoyed by their employees in terms of social insurance.


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2.5.2.5 Liberal professions

The liberal professions mainly include medical doctors, lawyers and engineers. The relevant social insurance funds insuring these categories are collectively known as “noble funds” for the high level of benefits and quality of services they usually provide. The rules simulated here are those applying to the social insurance fund of medical doctors (ΤΣΑΥ). ΤΣΑΥ’s 2005-2010 social contribution rates for employees are presented in Annex 6.3.

• EUROMOD notes

Fixed amounts paid by employees are adjusted with the number of months receiving employment income (yemmy).

2.5.3 Self-employed workers

2.5.3.1 Own account workers

Social contributions of own-account workers are simulated on the basis of TEBE. In 2005 there were 10 insurance classes (A to J) for those first insured in TEBE before 1st January 1993. Contributors were first allocated to insurance class E. After a year they moved to insurance class F, after another five years to insurance class G, and after another four years to insurance class H, the highest compulsory one. For those first insured in TEBE after 1st January 1993 there are 14 insurance classes (1 to 14); the first five are compulsory, the next nine optional. Contributors are first allocated to insurance class 1. Every two years contributors move up one class, until they reach insurance class 5 where they can remain until retirement, unless they choose to be insured according to an optional class. From 2007 all self-employed workers insured with OAEE (merger of TEBE, TAE and ΤΣΑ), irrespective of the date they were first insured, are placed in 14 insurance classes (1-10 compulsory, 11-14 optional). TEBE’s 2005-2011 social contribution rates are presented in Annex 6.1.

• EUROMOD notes

TEBE contributions are modelled separately for 2005-06 (sheet tscseA_el) and 2007-11 (sheet tscseB_el) as the latter period is together with TAE workers.

2.5.3.2 Other self-employed workers

Social contributions of other self-employed workers are simulated on the basis of TAE (the social insurance fund for shopkeepers). Social contributions are set at fixed amounts per insurance class, according to a schedule revised annually. In TAE there are three insurance classes for those first employed before 1st January 1993 plus another five for later entrants to the labour market. TAE’s 2005-2011 social contribution rates are presented in Annex 6.2.

• EUROMOD notes

TAE contributions for modelled separately for 2005-06 (sheet tscse02_el) and 2007-11 (sheet tscseB_el) as the latter period is together with TEBE workers.

2.5.3.3 Liberal professions

The rules simulated here are again those applying to the social insurance fund of medical doctors (ΤΣΑΥ). ΤΣΑΥ’s 2005-2011 social contribution rates for self-employed are presented in Annex 6.3.


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2.5.4 Farmers

The most typical unit of the agricultural economy in Greece is the small family farm. As a consequence, most farmers are self employed. In view of that, contributions are defined in proportion to a notional income in seven insurance classes, revised annually. The social contributions rate corresponding to each insurance class is set at 7% of notional income for pension insurance and 1.5% of notional income for sickness insurance. Fixed amounts per insurance class are paid for additional benefits.

Contributors can choose freely which insurance class to place themselves in. In 2005, about 80% of contributors were in (lowest) class 1. Farmers’ 2005-2011 social contribution rates are presented in Annex 6.4.

2.6 Personal income tax

The main tax simulated for Greece is personal income tax. Personal income tax receipts amounted to €8,315 million in 2005, which corresponds to about 20% of all tax revenue or 4% of GDP (i.e. excluding social contributions that are treated separately).

2.6.1 Tax unit

Tax unit for personal income tax is individual. Spouses file a joint income tax return, but their incomes are entered separately and taxed individually.

However, there is a partial exception to this rule: some tax allowances and/or tax credits are jointly assessed. The tax unit for the joint assessment of tax allowances/credits is broader as it includes both spouses and dependent children. The latter are defined as: (a) unmarried, aged under 18, (b) unmarried, aged under 20 and registered in ΟΑΕΔ as unemployed, (c) unmarried, aged under 25 and enrolled in post-secondary or tertiary education or fulfilling their military service, (d) unmarried, aged under 27, enrolled in post-secondary or tertiary education and registered in ΟΑΕΔ as unemployed, (e) suffering from any kind of disability over 67% irrespective of age. Note that once such allowances/credits (e.g. child tax allowance) are determined these are shared between (relevant) adults only.

• EUROMOD notes

Dependent child definition used in the model is simplified and excludes military condition and condition (d) (the latter is not considered to be followed in practice anyway).

2.6.2 Tax schedule

Income taxation is graduated, with progressively higher marginal tax rates applying to higher income brackets. The tax schedule in 2005-2011 is shown in Tables 2.19- 2.24.

Table 2.19 Tax schedule: general case (2005-2006)

Tax band Income bracket (€ per annum) Tax rate (%) Lower limit Upper limit 1 0 9,500 0 2 9,501 13,000 15 3 13,001 23,000 30 4 23,001 … 40


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Table 2.20 Tax schedule: general case (2007)

Tax band Income bracket (€ per annum) Tax rate (%) Lower limit Upper limit 1 0 10,500 0 2 10,501 12,000 15 3 12,001 30,000 29 4 30,001 75,000 39 5 75,001 … 40






Tax band Income bracket (€ per annum) Tax rate (%) Lower limit Upper limit 1 0 12,000 0 2 12,001 16,000 18 3 16,001 22,000 24 4 22,001 26,000 26 5 26,001 32,000 32 6 32,001 40,000 36 7 40,001 60,000 38 8 60,001 100,000 40 9 100,001 … 45


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Tax band Income bracket (€ per annum) Tax rate (%) Lower limit Upper limit 1 0 5,000 0 2 5,001 12,000 10 3 12,001 16,000 18 4 16,001 26,000 25 5 26,001 40,000 35 6 40,001 60,000 38 7 60,001 100,000 40 8 100,001 … 45

Ιn the case of tax payers with income from employment earnings and/or retirement benefits (i.e. main and supplementary old age pensions, minor old age pensions, disability pensions, orphans' and widows' pensions, social pension and pensioners’ social solidarity benefit) the upper limit to tax band 1 could be extended by up to €1,500 per annum7. Note that in 2008-09 in order for employees and pensioners with additional self-employment or property income to be eligible for this favorable tax treatment, their self-employment and property income should be less than 50% of total taxable income. In 2010 the general tax schedule applied to all tax payers. Since 2011 the upper limit to tax band 1was €9,000 for tax payers below 30 and above 65 with gross personal income below €9,000. The resulting tax schedule for 2005-09 and 2011 is shown in Tables 2.25 – 2.29.

Table 2.25 Tax schedule: employees and pensioners (2005-2006)


Table 2.26 Tax schedule: employees and pensioners (2007)


7 The justification for this seems to be the perceived need to compensate employees and pensioners for the fact that other categories of tax payers (e.g. the self-employed) are widely believed to understate their true incomes in order to evade tax.


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Table 2.29 Tax schedule: persons below 30 / above 65 with gross personal income below €9,000 (2011)

Tax band Income bracket (€ per annum) Tax rate (%) Lower limit Upper limit 1 0 9,000 0 2 9,001 12,000 10 3 12,001 16,000 18 4 16,001 26,000 25 5 26,001 40,000 35 6 40,001 60,000 38 7 60,001 100,000 40 8 100,001 … 45

2.6.3 Exemptions

Unemployment benefits, social assistance benefits and some family benefits provided by local government at the level of prefecture (such as unprotected children benefit and single parent benefit) are not taxed as income. Employment or pension income of persons suffering from any kind of disability over 80% is also tax-exempted. From 1st January 2010, unemployment benefits, large family benefit, 3rd child benefit, lifetime pension for mothers of many children, lump sum €2,000 birth grant and non-contributory disability benefits are taxed as income for individuals with taxable income over €30,000.

2.6.4 Tax allowances

Tax allowances here are defined as deductions from taxable income. They include employee social insurance contributions, child tax allowance, mortgage interest tax allowance, disability tax allowance, installation of natural gas (etc) systems tax allowance, private insurance contributions tax allowance as well as charitable donations tax allowance. Note that most tax allowances are per tax unit, i.e. they are shared between the main taxpayer and his/her spouse. All except charitable donations tax allowance are simulated in EUROMOD.


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2.6.4.1 Child tax allowance

Depending on the number of children in the family, the lowest income bracket (tax rate 0%) is raised by the amounts shown in Table 2.30.

Table 2.30 Child tax allowance (2005-2011)

No. of children Child tax allowance (€ per tax unit per annum)

2005-09 2010 2011 0 0 0 0 1 1,000 1,500 2,000 2 2,000 3,000 4,000 3 10,000 11,500 7,000

In 2005-09 a further €1,000 increase in the lowest income bracket is applicable for each subsequent child after the 3rd. In 2010 (2011), a further €2,000 (€3,000) increase in the lowest income bracket is applicable for each subsequent child after the 3rd. As an illustration, Table 2.31 below shows the tax schedule faced by a single earner employee with two dependent children in 2006. Note that the child tax allowance affects the tax schedule as well.

Table 2.31 Tax schedule: single earner employee with two dependent children (2006)

Tax band Income bracket (€ per annum) Tax rate (%) Lower limit Upper limit

1 0 13,000 0 2 n.a. n.a. 15 3 13,001 23,000 30 4 23,001 … 40

In the case of two-earner households, the child tax allowance is allocated to the highest earner (i.e. the spouse with the highest taxable income). In the case of married couples, if after taking into account the child tax allowance, the main earner’s taxable income does not reach the upper bound of tax band 1 (tax rate 0%), the balance is transferred to the secondary earner.

2.6.4.2 Mortgage interest tax allowance

The interest – not capital – component of housing loan repayments is tax deductible, in part or in full, according to the date the housing loan was taken out.

In 2005-11 tax rules distinguish between the following cases:

• Housing loans taken out before 31st December 1999: interest repayments are fully exempted from taxable income.

• Housing loans taken out between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2002: interest repayments are exempted in full for housing units of up to 120m2; for housing units exceeding 120m2, the exemption is calculated on a pro rata basis.

• Housing loans taken out between 1st January 2003 and 31st December 2008: tax relief is provided as a tax credit at a flat rate of 20% of interest repayments for mortgages of up to €200,000 and housing units of up to 120m2; for mortgages exceeding that amount and housing units exceeding 120m2, the tax credit is calculated on a pro rata basis. Note that the €200,000 limit applies to the tax unit, not individual taxpayers.


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• Housing loans taken out between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2009: in 2009, tax relief was provided as a tax credit at a flat rate of 40% of interest repayments for mortgages of up to €350,000 and housing units of up to 200m2; for mortgages exceeding that amount and housing units exceeding 200m2, the tax credit is calculated on a pro rata basis. In 2010, the same conditions are used as for housing loans taken out between 2003 and 2008 (see the previous paragraph).

• Since 2011, tax relief is only provided as a tax credit (irrespective of the year that the loan was taken) at a flat rate of 10% of interest repayments for mortgages of up to €200,000 and housing units of up to 120m2; for mortgages exceeding that amount and housing units exceeding 120m2, the tax credit is calculated on a pro rata basis.

• EUROMOD notes

Mortgage interest payments are reported at the household level in the original data but split (equally) between people responsible for accommodation in the household (as defined in the original data) in the EUROMOD input dataset. Subsequently, mortgage interests allowance is first split between people responsible for accommodation in proportion to their taxable income and in the second step between spouses (again in proportion to their taxable income). Mortgage interest tax credit is in the second step split between spouses in proportion to their gross tax liability.

Note that the 2009 regulation for housing loans taken out between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2009 is not modelled here as (a) the dataset is earlier than 2009 and hence does not include any of these cases and (b) it was abolished in 2010.

2.6.4.3 Disability tax allowance

In 2005-06, a €1,900 increase in the lowest income bracket was applicable for blind persons, persons suffering from disability over 67%, kidney disease or thalassemia. In 2007 the increase in the lowest income bracket was raised to €2,400.

2.6.4.4 Installation of natural gas/ solar/ photovoltaic systems tax allowance

In 2005-06, 20% of expenses for installation of natural gas/ solar/ photovoltaic systems were exempted from taxable income up to a maximum of €500 per year. In 2007-09, 20% of these expenses were exempted from taxable income up to a maximum of €700 per year.

In 2010 this tax relief was provided as a tax credit at a flat rate of 10% of installation expenses up to a maximum tax credit of €600 annually. In 2011 the maximum tax credit was reduced to €300 annually.

2.6.4.5 Private insurance contributions tax allowance

In 2005-07, private insurance contributions were exempted from taxable income in full up to a maximum of €1,100 per year. In 2008-09 the maximum amount was raised to €1,200 per year. Note that this tax allowance is jointly assessed, and that the maximum amount applies to the tax unit (not individual taxpayers).

In 2010 it was provided as a tax credit at a flat rate of 20% of private insurance contributions up to a maximum tax credit of €240 annually for unmarried persons and €480 for married couples.

Since 2011 it is provided as a tax credit at a flat rate of 10% of private insurance contributions up to a maximum tax credit of €120 annually for unmarried persons and €240 for married couples.


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2.6.4.6 Charitable donations tax allowance

In 2005-09 charitable donations over €100 per year were fully exempted from taxable income. The tax allowance was jointly assessed: individual expenditures on charitable donations were summed up across all tax unit members.

In 2010 it was provided as a tax credit at a flat rate of 20% of charitable donations. In 2011 the rate fell to 10% of charitable donations. Note that donations cannot exceed 10% of total taxable income.

2.6.5 Tax base

Taxable income includes several sources of income. More specifically, the definition of taxable income includes the following income sources: employment and self-employment income, other market income (received by children in SILC), income from rent, private transfers received, education allowances, civil servant's family benefit, sickness benefits, pensioners’ social solidarity benefit, disability pensions, main and supplementary old age pensions, minor old age pensions, orphans' and widows' pensions. Since 1st January 2010 unemployment benefits, large family benefit, 3rd child benefit, lifetime pension for mothers of many children, lump sum €2,000 birth grant and non-contributory disability benefits are also part of the tax base for individuals with (other) taxable income over €30,000.

The tax base is defined as taxable income minus the various tax allowances described above. In EUROMOD, the latter covers social insurance contributions (employee SIC, self-employed SIC (incl. farmers), pensioners SIC), mortgage interest tax repayments, installation of natural gas/ solar/ photovoltaic systems expenses, private insurance contributions and disability tax allowance. Note that, different from these, the child tax allowance does not affect tax base but changes the tax schedule.

2.6.6 Tax credits

Tax credits are defined as deductions from tax due.

2.6.6.1 Self-employed social insurance contributions tax credit

Until 2010 self-employed social insurance contributions were fully deducted from taxable income. Since 2011 this tax relief is provided as a tax credit, calculated as 10% of social insurance contributions paid up to a maximum tax credit of €1,000 annually.

2.6.6.2 Rent tax credit

The rent tax credit is calculated as 20% of rent paid up to a maximum tax credit of €220 annually in 2005-2006 and €240 in 2007-2010. Since 2011 the tax credit is calculated as 10% of rent paid up to a maximum tax credit of €100 annually. To be eligible one cannot be in receipt of housing benefits.

2.6.6.3 Maintenance payments tax credit

In 2005-2010 the tax reduction was 20% of maintenance payments for alimonies up to a maximum tax credit of €600 per year. Since 2011 the tax reduction is 10% of maintenance payments up to a maximum tax credit of €1,500 per year.

2.6.6.4 Medical expenses and expenses for elderly care tax credit / allowance

Medical expenses and expenses for elderly care are partly deducted from tax due.


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In 2005-10, the tax credit was calculated as 20% of the sum of medical expenses plus half the expenditure on care for the old. The tax credit could not exceed €6,000 per taxpayer. Since 2011, the tax credit is calculated as 10% of the sum of medical expenses plus half the expenditure on care for the old and the tax credit cannot exceed €3,000 per taxpayer.

2.6.6.5 Education expenses tax credit

Expenses on private lessons or cramming school fees are partly deducted from tax due.

In 2005-06 the tax credit was calculated as 20% of education expenses up to a maximum of €220 per year. In 2007-10 the tax credit was again calculated as 20% of education expenses but up to a maximum of €240 per year. Since 2011 the tax credit is calculated as 10% of education expenses up to a maximum of €100 per year.

2.6.6.6 Household expenses tax credit (not simulated)

During 2005-06 this tax credit was abolished. From 1st August 2007, household expenses tax credit was reintroduced, calculated as 40% of household expenses up to a maximum tax credit of €2,300 per annum for both spouses. Such expenses include weddings and christenings expenses, restaurant meals, various services, housing maintenance etc. The tax credit was again abolished in 2010.

• EUROMOD notes

As rent payments are reported at the household level in the original data, maximum credit amount is applied at the household level and rent tax credit is split between people responsible for accommodation in the household (as defined in the original data) in proportion to their taxable income. In the next step it is then split between spouses in proportion to their tax base. The same approach is used for mortgage tax credit.

Maintenance payments, medical expenses and education expenses are also reported at the household level in the original data, but assigned to the person whose age is closest to 45 (either below or above). If there is more than one such person then it is assigned to the one who appears first in the household (by idperson). Hence these credits are also simulated for that person.

In EUROMOD, as no detailed information about the nature of medical expenditure is available, it is all treated as hospital expenditure, and is thus deducted from tax due.

Household expenses tax credit is not simulated due to data constraints.

2.6.7 Withholding tax on benefits

Certain benefits are taxed at source at 10% plus 1.2% stamp duty. When, after the financial year is over, beneficiaries file a tax return, they can choose either to have their benefits taxed as normal income, or to have their liability exhausted with the tax already withheld. In the former case, the 10% tax deducted at source (not the stamp duty) will be assessed against tax due. In the latter case, benefits will be taxed at a flat rate of 10% + 1.2%. The unit of analysis is individual.

In theory, the rule means that rational taxpayers have benefits taxed as income only when their marginal tax rate is below 10%. In practice, few tax payers enter income from certain benefits in their tax return.

In view of the above, the withholding tax on benefits is assumed to apply to the following benefits alone:


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• 3rd child benefit (bchlg)

• large family benefit (bfalg)

• lifetime pension for mothers of many children (pfa)

By contrast, all other taxable benefits are assumed to be taxed as normal income. On 1st January 2007 the 10% withholding tax on the above benefits was abolished (the 1.2% stamp duty still remains).

2.7 Interest income tax

• Tax unit

The unit of analysis is individual.

• Tax schedule

Interest on bank deposits is taxed at 10%.

• EUROMOD notes

Investment income reported in EU-SILC includes both interest and dividend income. However, since their disentanglement is not possible due to data constraints, investment income is treated as interest income.

2.8 Additional tax on rental income

• Tax unit


• Tax schedule

In addition to its taxation as personal or corporate income, rental income is also subject to a 1.5% tax, increased to 3% for rentals exceeding 300m² and for rentals belonging to corporations. The amount of additional tax may not exceed total liability in terms of personal or corporate income tax.

• EUROMOD notes

In EUROMOD, due to data constraints, we assume that none of the rentals exceeds 300m².

2.9 1% extraordinary contribution

• Tax unit


• Tax schedule

This is an emergence measure applied only for 2010. Individuals with 2009 net taxable incomes exceeding €100,000 are subject to 1% tax on all of that income (not just the part exceeding the threshold).


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• EUROMOD notes

In EUROMOD, disposable income in 2010 (i.e. current year) is used as a proxy for 2009 net taxable income.

2.10 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution

This is a special levy on main pensions, introduced in August 2010.

• Tax unit


• Tax schedule

Since 1st August 2010 main pensions exceeding €1,400 per month are subject to taxation as shown in Table 2.32. Note that the tax rates apply to the entire pension amount.

Table 2.32 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution (2010-2011)

• EUROMOD notes

Pensioners’ solidarity contribution is by default switched off in 2010 as the policy only became effective after 30th June.

2.11 Additional pensioners’ solidarity contribution

This is an additional levy on main pensions, introduced in August 2011.

• Tax unit


• Tax schedule

The contribution applies to pensioners below 60 (except from mothers of underage children) with main pensions exceeding €1,700 per month. The contributions’ rates are shown in Table 2.33. Note that the tax rates apply to the entire pension amount.

Table 2.33 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution

Tax band Pension bracket (€ per month) Tax rate (%) 1 0 1,400 0 2 1,401 1,700 3 3 1,701 2,000 4 4 2,001 2,300 5 5 2,301 2,600 6 6 2,601 2,900 7 7 2,901 3,200 8 8 3,201 3,500 9 9 3,501 … 10

Tax band Pension bracket (€ per month) Tax rate (%) 1 0 1,700 0 2 1,701 2,300 6 3 2,301 2,900 8 4 2,901 … 10


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• EUROMOD notes

Additional pensioners’ solidarity contribution is switched off in 2011 as the policy only became effective after 30th June.

2.12 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution for supplementary pensions

This is a special levy on supplementary pensions, introduced in September 2011.

• Tax unit


• Tax schedule

Since 1st August 2011 supplementary pensions exceeding €300 per month are subject to taxation as shown in Table 2.34. Note that the tax rates apply to the entire pension amount.

Table 2.34 Pensioners’ solidarity contribution

• EUROMOD notes

Pensioners’ solidarity contribution is switched off in 2011 as the policy only became effective after 30th June.

2.13 Solidarity contribution

This is another emergency tax introduced in 2010, paid by individuals with net taxable incomes exceeding €12,000 per year.

• Tax unit


• Tax schedule

The contribution applies to individuals with net taxable incomes exceeding €12,000 per year. The contributions’ rates are shown in Table 2.35. Net taxable income is not allowed to fall below €12,000. Moreover, if the contribution reduces the net taxable income below the lower threshold of tax bands 3-5, the contribution is calculated by using the tax rate that corresponds to the lower income threshold. Note that the tax rates apply to the entire amount of income (not just the part exceeding the threshold).

Tax band Pension bracket (€ per month) Tax rate (%) 1 0 300 0 2 301 350 3 3 351 400 4 4 401 450 5 5 451 500 6 6 501 550 7 7 551 600 8 8 601 650 9 9 651 … 10


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Table 2.35 Solidarity contribution (since 2010)

2.14 Self-employed and liberal professions’ contribution

This is a special levy on self-employed and liberal professions, introduced in 2010.

• Tax unit

The unit of analysis comprises individuals. The concept used for the eligibility condition was individuals’ social insurance fund (lpmfc=3,6,8).

• Tax schedule

In 2010 the tax was set to €300 per year. Since 2011 it amounts to €500 for those self-employed / liberal professionals working more than five years in areas with population exceeding 200,000 inhabitants and €400 for those working more than five years in areas with population between 500 and 200,000 inhabitants. No tax is levied for self-employed working in areas with less than 500 inhabitants.

• EUROMOD notes

The population’s condition was approximated by using the variable drgur (degree of urbanisation); the amount of €500 was levied on eligible persons living in densely populated areas (drgur = 1) whereas the amount of 400 was levied on eligible persons living in intermediate populated areas (drgur = 2).

Tax band Income bracket (€ per year) Tax rate (%) 1 0 12,000 0 2 12,001 20,000 1 3 20,001 50,000 2 4 50,001 100,000 3 5 100,001 … 4


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3. DATA

3.1 General description

The Greek database is drawn from the Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), both the national (PDB) and the European (UDB) version. EU-SILC is a rotating panel that provides quality, timely cross-sectional information on household incomes and social exclusion.

Table 3.1 EUROMOD database description EUROMOD database EL_2008_a1 Original name SILC_UDB_c08_v08-3(GR), SILC_08_C Provider EL.STAT. Year of collection 2008 Period of collection May – June Income reference period 1.01.2007 - 31.12.2007 Sampling Stratified multi-stage sampling Unit of assessment Households Coverage Private household Sample size Indiv: 16,869 HH: 6,504 Household response rate (total sample) 90.18%

3.2 Sample quality and weights

3.2.1 Non-response

Commission Regulation 28/2004 defines indicators aimed at measuring unit non-response in EU-SILC final quality reports.

For Greece, the overall personal interview non-response rate and the overall household interview non-response rate were 10.57% and 10.03% respectively. The household response rates (Rh) for the whole sample differ considerably among countries: from Norway and Belgium (both below 66%) to Germany, Slovakia and Romania (all above 95%).8

3.2.2 Weights

The original SILC sample for Greece consisted of 6,504 households and 16,869 individuals. The weights provided by SILC are household weights aiming to correct for selective non-response and panel attrition. In the sample no households with zero incomes from all sources were found. Hence no re-weighting was needed. Sample statistics and output estimates were projected to a reference population of 10,826,128 individuals.

Table 3.2 presents some basic descriptive statistics for the grossing-up weight (dwt) of the final sample used in EUROMOD.

8 Source: 2008 Comparative Intermediate EU Quality Report, Version 2, June 2010.


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Table 3.2 Descriptive Statistics of the Grossing-up weight Number 16,814 Mean 644 Median 384 Maximum 7980 Minimum 69 Max/Min 116 Decile 1 (mean) 253 Decile 9 (mean) 1,899 Dec 9 / Dec1 7.51

3.2.3 Item non-response and under-reporting

Income and household composition data are collected by interviews with all household members aged 16 or over. The SILC response rules require detailed information on all income components to be provided by direct reporting, but proxy answers are allowed.

In the Greek sample 71 individuals reported zero income from all sources. To these individuals income was imputed using SILC’s non-response inflation factor (hy025). For individuals younger than 65 the adjustment income was assigned according to the main income source by age, whereas for individuals over 65 the adjustment income was imputed as old age pension income.

3.3 Data adjustment

This section summarises the most important adjustments performed to make data from both sources (national and European SILC) suitable for the purposes of EUROMOD.

3.4 Imputations and assumptions

3.4.1 Time period

In the SILC user database, the income reference period is a 12-month period. Information on earnings refers to the last tax year (1st January 2007 – 31st December 2007). Similarly, information about pensions and benefits refers to the calendar year before the interview. Self-employment income is based on this reference period too.

EU-SILC’s User Database Description clarifies that the interval between the end of the income reference period and the time of the interview for the respondent concerned shall be limited to 8 months as far as possible.

All monetary amounts in the SILC are expressed in annual terms. These are converted into monthly terms (dividing by 12) for the EUROMOD database.

3.4.2 Dropped observations

People with year of birth equal to 2008 (55 cases) were excluded from EUROMOD’s database, as they were not born in SILC’s income reference period.


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3.4.3 Gross incomes

The income information available in the survey used to be net of income tax and social insurance contributions. Since 2007 gross incomes are also provided. However, the latter were not used; in order to obtain gross figures, a procedure has been developed ad hoc, taking into account legislation on income tax and social insurance contributions in 2008.

3.4.4 Social contributions

As explained earlier, a large number of social insurance funds exist in Greece. The national SILC dataset contains information on the social insurance affiliation to all of them. For this reason, we constructed EUROMOD variable lpmfc where contributors were allocated to the largest representative fund of their category. The categories created and the funds selected to represent them are described in Table 2.2. In cases where people stated they were insured in two different funds, the allocation rules used are shown in Table 3.3:

Table 3.3 Allocation of persons insured in two social insurance funds 1st fund 2nd fund Allocated fund Liberal professions Own account workers Own account workers Liberal professions Civil servants Liberal professions Private sector workers Own account workers Own account workers Private sector workers Farmers Private sector workers Private sector workers Other self-employed workers Other self-employed workers Private sector workers Banking employees Private sector workers Other self-employed workers Farmers Other self-employed workers

Several other issues also arise:

(a) contributors must be allocated to the “old” or to the “new” regime,

(b) employees must be allocated to “standard” or “hazardous” occupations,

(c) ΟΓΑ, TEBE and TAE must be allocated to insurance classes.

3.4.4.1 Identifying contributors in the “old” and “new” regimes

In order to distinguish the contributors to the “old” regime (i.e. those first employed before 1st January 1993) from contributors to the “new” regime (i.e. those first employed after 1st January 1993), the difference in years between a person’s age at the time of the interview and the age he/she began his/her first regular job or business was calculated (int_lpm). In view of the above, contributors were allocated to the “old” or to the “new” regime as shown in Table 3.4. Note that this process was only applied to people with missing data information.

Table 3.4 Contributors in the “old” and the “new” regime (lpm)

Contributors first employed int_lpm lpm Before 1st January 1993 (“old” regime) >15 0 After 1st January 1993 (“new” regime) <=15 1


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3.4.4.2 Identifying contributors in hazardous occupations (lochz)

In 2008, 32.3% of all ΙΚΑ contributors and a lower proportion of other employees worked in occupations officially designated as “hazardous”. Workers in “hazardous” occupations have the right to retire on a full pension up to five years before others (i.e. those in “standard” occupations). On the other hand, as explained in section 2.5.1, workers in “hazardous” occupations (and their employers) pay social contributions at a higher rate. It is for this reason that identifying those contributors is important for the purposes of modelling the tax-benefit system of Greece.

The following conditions were specified to identify workers in “hazardous” occupations:

• person is an active contributor, i.e. “directly insured”,

• social insurance fund is “IKA” (lpmfc=1) or “banking employees” (lpmfc=5) or “public enterprise workers” (lpmfc=4),

• labour economic status is “employee” (les=3) or “unemployed” (les=5),

• occupation is “technician or associate professional” (loc=3) or “craft or trades worker” (loc=7) or “plant or machine operator” (loc=8), or

• occupation is “skilled agricultural” (loc=6) or “elementary occupation” (loc=9), except when industry is “agriculture” (lin=1 was excluded).

Note that this process was only applied to people with missing data information.

3.4.4.3 Allocating self-employed contributors to insurance classes

Since reference earnings are not known in advance in the case of self-employment, social contributions are set at fixed amounts per “insurance class”, according to a schedule revised annually. This is the case with own-account workers (TEBE), other self-employed workers (TAE) and farmers (OΓΑ).

Therefore, before social insurance contributions could be modelled, self-employment earnings were used to allocate contributors to insurance classes. To mimic the quasi-proportional effect intended, the higher one’s earnings the higher their insurance class. Income brackets were chosen so that the resulting distribution of contributors between insurance classes matched the actual one. Note that this process was only applicable to people with missing data information. The 2005-11 distributions for own own-account workers, other self-employed workers and farmers are presented in the Annex.

3.4.5 Other data issues

For the construction of EUROMOD variables bmact (contributory maternity benefits), bho (housing benefits) and bdi (non contributory disability benefits) both the national and the European version of SILC were used in order to aggregate all relevant variables in the most accurate way. Hence, the definition of the above variables is as follows:

bmact = maternity allowance + birth grant + parental leave benefit (PDB variables included in hy050n)

bho = housing allowances (hy070n) + housing benefit for students in tertiary education (PDB variable included in hy050n)

bdi = benefit for persons with special needs + care allowance for incapacitated persons + care allowance for incapacitated children + nutrition allowance for people suffering from kidney’s


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disease + other disability benefits/ allowances + disabled child care allowance (PDB variables included in hy050n and py130n)

Moreover, negative self-employment incomes have been set to zero (42 cases). Note that this adjustment is applied in the model and not in the input dataset and thus can be easily omitted from model calculations by switching off the corresponding function in the policy sheet (i.e. policy yse_el).

3.5 Updating

The dataset used for Greece is SILC 2008. As information on earnings, pensions and benefits refer to the past tax year (2007) no uprating was required for 2007 policy simulations. 2008-11 uprating factors are presented in the Table below.

Table 3.5 EUROMOD uprating factors

Variable name 2008 2009 2010 2011

Employment income Dependent employment income yem 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027

Public sector employees 1.071 1.127 1.020 0.989 Private sector employees outside banking 1.065 1.095 1.063 1.045

Banking employees 1.000 1.037 1.018 0.985 Workers in public enterprises 1.082 1.165 1.101 1.033

Self-employed income yse 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027 Farmers 0.938 0.913 0.892 0.892 Own account workers/ other self-employed 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027

Liberal professions 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027 Investment - property income

Investment income yiy 1.085 1.056 1.129 1.221 Property income – rent yprrt 1.039 1.077 1.103 1.112

Other income Private transfers ypt 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027 Non-cash income kfb 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027 Income received by people aged under 16 yot 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027

Retirement pensions/ benefits Main old age pension poa00 1.030 1.030 1.030 1.030 Supplementary old age pension poacm 1.030 1.030 1.030 1.030 Other minor pensions poaot 1.030 1.030 1.030 1.030 Survivors pension psuwd 1.030 1.030 1.030 1.030 Orphans pension psuor 1.030 1.030 1.030 1.030 Pensioners’ social solidarity benefit boact 1.179 1.179 1.179 1.179

Social pension boanc 1.188 1.188 1.219 1.219 Private pension ypp 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027

Unemployment benefits Unemployment insurance bunct 1.100 1.235 1.235 1.235 Unemployment assistance for older workers bunnc 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000

Minor unemployment benefits bunot 1.100 1.235 1.235 1.235 Family benefits


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Variable name 2008 2009 2010 2011

3rd child benefit bchlg 1.039 1.06 1.087 1.075 Large family benefit bfalg 1.039 1.06 1.087 1.075 Lifetime pension for mothers of many-children pfa 1.039 1.06 1.087 1.075

Civil servants family benefit bfacs 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 Income support to families with children in compulsory education bched 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000

Minor family benefits bfaot 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 Sickness – maternity benefits

Contributory maternity benefits (pregnancy-confinement benefit, birth grant, parental leave grant)

bmact 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027

Health benefits bhl 1.062 1.111 1.055 1.027

Disability pensions pdi 1.030 1.030 1.030 1.030 Disability benefits bdi 1.078 1.166 1.261 1.361 Housing benefits bho 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 Scholarships and grants bed 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 Minor social assistance benefits bsaot 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 Large property tax tpr 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000

Assets Loan value amolv 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135 Financial capital afc 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135

Expenditure items Rent paid xhcrt 1.039 1.077 1.103 1.112 Education expenses xed 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135 Housing cost xhc 1.085 1.056 1.129 1.221 Interest on mortgage payment xhcmomi 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135 Other housing costs xhcot 1.085 1.056 1.129 1.221 Medical expenses xhl01 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135 Expenses for elderly care xhl02 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135 Expenses for setting up new heating systems xht 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135

Alimony expenditure xmpam 1.035 1.048 1.074 1.101 Other maintenance payments xmpot 1.035 1.048 1.074 1.101 Expenditure on private pensions xpp 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135

Nominal GDP deflator 1.035 1.048 1.074 1.101 Harmonised consumer price index 1.042 1.056 1.106 1.135

Sources: EL.STAT., Bank of Greece (2011 Governors’ Report), various benefit-providing agencies.


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4. VALIDATION

4.1 Aggregate Validation

Table 4.1 Components of disposable income

EUROMOD 2008

EU-SILC 2008

ils_dispy HY020 Employee cash or near cash income yem PY010_N Company car - PY021_G Cash benefits or losses from self-employment yse PY050_N Pension from individual private plans ypp - Unemployment benefits bunct_s+bunnc_s+bunot PY090_N Old-age benefits poa00+poacm+poaot+pdi+pxp_s+

boact_s+boanc_s PY100_N

Survivor’ benefits psuor+psuwd PY110_N Sickness benefits bhl PY120_N Disability benefits bdi PY130_N Education-related allowances bed+bched_s PY140_N Income from rental of a property or land yprrt HY040_N Family/children related allowances bfalg_s+bfacs+bfaot+bmact+pfa+

bchba_s+bchlg_s HY050_N

Social exclusion not elsewhere classified bsaot HY060_N Housing allowances bho HY070_N Regular inter-household cash transfer received ypt HY080_N Interests, dividends, etc. yiy HY090_N Income received by people aged under 16 yot HY110_N Regular taxes on wealth (-) tpr HY120_N Regular inter-household cash transfer paid (-) xmpot+xmpal HY130_N Taxes on income and SIC (-) tin00_s+tinktdt_s+tinwh_s+tinrt_s,

ils_sicee, ils_sicse HY140_N

Notes: The definition of variables in italics differs from EUROMOD to EU-SILC (also see section 3.4.5).


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4.1.1 Validation of incomes inputted into the simulation

In Table 4.2 the number of employed and unemployed people in EUROMOD is validated with respect to the official statistics. EUROMOD findings seem to estimate correctly the number of employed people until 2010 and to overestimate it by 8% in 2011. With respect to the number of unemployed persons, until 2009 EUROMOD’s underlying dataset overestimates it by 23% on average. The tremendous rise in unemployment since then has resulted in EUROMOD underestimating the number of unemployed in 2010 and 2011 by 19% and 35% respectively.

Table 4.2 Number of employed & unemployed

Input dataset (I)

External Source (II) Ratio (I/II)

2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Nr of employed 4,398,695 4,509,874 4,559,389 4,508,659 4,388,648 4,080,110 0.98 0.96 0.98 1.00 1.08 Nr of unemployed 509,759 406,919 377,876 471,117 628,700 779,583 1.25 1.35 1.08 0.81 0.65 Notes: EUROMOD number of employed and unemployed computed based on months in employment/unemployment - numbers computed as averages of monthly data over the year. LFS numbers computed as averages of quarterly data over the year (Q1-Q2 average for 2011). Source: LFS.

In Tables 4.3 and 4.4 market incomes are validated with respect to people in receipt and aggregate yearly amounts. EUROMOD findings seem to underestimate gross employment earnings by approximately 5%. There are no official data available on the number of recipients of market incomes.

Table 4.3 Market Income-Number of recipients

Input database (I)

External source (II)

Ratio (I/III)

2007 2007-2011 2007 Original income Employment income 3,243,473 n/a n/a Self-employment income 1,772,990 n/a n/a Private pension income 8,029 n/a n/a Severance payments (private transfers) 345,324 n/a n/a In-kind income Fringe benefits 403,340 n/a n/a


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Table 4.4 Market Income-Aggregate amounts

Input (I)


Ratio (I/II)

Uprated input (I) External source (II) Ratio(I/II)

2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 Original income Employment income –mean 18,123 n/a n/a 19,322 20,056 19,025 18,587 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Employment income –total 58,781 60,891 0.97 62,670 65,050 61,708 60,287 65,221 68,343 64,276 0.90 0.96 0.95 0.96 n/a Self-employment income 27,653 n/a n/a 28,718 29,684 28,319 27,692 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Investment income 253 n/a n/a 275 268 286 309 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Property Income 3,287 n/a n/a 3,416 3,541 3,626 3,656 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Private pension income 22 n/a n/a 23 23 24 25 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Severance payments 1,897 n/a n/a 1,995 2,087 1,982 1,929 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a In-kind income Fringe benefits 367 n/a n/a 390 408 387 377 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Imputed housing income 15,313 n/a n/a 15,972 16,171 16,936 17,380 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Notes: Eurostat gross wages and salaries also include remuneration in kind. Sources: Eurostat, Gross wages and salaries (ESA95, 4.03 and 4.04).

The number of recipients and total expenditure of non-simulated benefits are shown in Tables 4.5-4.6. On the whole, EUROMOD seems to estimate with a satisfactory degree of accuracy main old age pension recipients. However, this is not the case for disability, survivors and supplementary old age pension recipients. Disability pensions are severely underestimated due to the fact that in EU-SILC disability pension recipients are registered as old-age pension recipients after the age of 65. Other benefits that are also underestimated in EU-SILC are disability and housing benefits. Expenditures estimates are generally in line with the estimates of recipient numbers.


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Table 4.5 Non-simulated taxes and benefits-Number of recipients/payers

Input database (I) External Source (III) Ratio (I/III) 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Pensions (p.) Main old age p. 1,888,469 1,946,322 2,010,593 n/a n/a n/a 0.97 0.94 n/a n/a n/a Supplementary old age p. 331,819 704,708 724,998 n/a n/a n/a 0.47 0.46 n/a n/a n/a Other old age p. 95,425 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Survivors p. 353,945 620,090 656,204 n/a n/a n/a 0.60 0.56 n/a n/a n/a Orphans p. 16,018 Benefits (b.) Family benefits (f.b.) Lifetime pension for mothers of many children 181,591 182,915 177,831 174,372 183,015 n/a 0.99 1.02 1.04 0.99 n/a Civil servants f.b. 38,351 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Other f.b. 75,601 379,808 397,574 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Unemployment benefits (u.b.) Other u.b. 102,587 163,253 157,606 n/a n/a n/a 0.63 0.65 n/a n/a n/a Sickness – maternity benefits Maternity b. 67,330 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Health b. 33,231 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Disability pensions – benefits Disability p. 128,844 304,515 300,778 n/a n/a 288,000 0.42 0.43 n/a n/a 0.45 Disability b. 61,230 203,389 194,725 209,207 216,484 212,246 0.30 0.31 0.29 0.28 0.29 Housing b. 88,398 154,659 173,690 n/a n/a n/a 0.57 0.51 n/a n/a n/a Minor social assistance b. 55,159 56,186 62,876 n/a n/a n/a 0.98 0.88 n/a n/a n/a Notes: 1. Other retirement pensions include early retirement pensions due to resignation, national resistance pensions, deputy/ mayor pensions etc. 2. Other family benefits include unprotected child benefit, marriage grant, OAEΔ family allowance etc. 3. Health benefits include pay sick leave, benefit for working accidents, assistance of movement of sick persons, benefit for spa therapy, airing etc. 4. EUROMOD estimates include only disability pension recipients below 65, while administrative data include all disability pension recipients (irrespective of age). 5. Minor social assistance benefits include emergency social help, special allowance for released prisoners/ repatriated Greeks/ drug addicts/ alcoholics, benefit for households in less favoured areas etc. Source: Own elaboration of data derived from various administrative sources.


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Table 4.6 Non-simulated taxes and benefits-Aggregate amounts

Input (I)


Ratio (I/II)

Uprated input (I) External source (II) Ratio(I/II)

2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 Pensions (p.) Main old age p. 19,312 19,087 1.01 19,891 19,891 17,542 17,542 20,797 n/a n/a n/a 0.96 n/a n/a n/a Supplementary old age p. 1,398 3,051 0.46 1,440 1,440 1,440 1,440 3,530 n/a n/a n/a 0.41 n/a n/a n/a Other old age p. 621 n/a n/a 640 640 578 578 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Survivors p. 2,768 2,585 1.10 2,851 2,851 2,470 2,470 2,496 n/a n/a n/a 1.18 n/a n/a n/a Orphans p. 85 87 87 75 75 Benefits (b.) Family benefits (f.b.) Lifetime pension for mothers of many children 210 209 1.00 218 223 229 226 214 217 217 n/a 1.02 1.03 1.05 n/a Civil servants f.b. 25 n/a n/a 25 25 25 25 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Unemployment benefits (u.b.) Other u.b. 220 114 1.93 241 271 271 271 132 n/a n/a n/a 1.83 n/a n/a n/a Sickness – maternity benefits Contributory maternity b. 97 162 0.60 103 108 103 100 181 183 n/a n/a 0.57 0.59 n/a n/a Health b. 84 364 0.23 89 93 89 86 380 394 n/a n/a 0.23 0.24 n/a n/a Disability pensions – benefits Disability p. 812 1,977 0.41 837 837 837 837 2,278 n/a n/a 2,100 0.37 n/a n/a n/a Disability b. 215 652 0.33 231 250 271 292 673 779 863 917 0.34 0.32 0.31 0.32 Housing b. 131 242 0.54 131 131 28 131 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Minor social assistance b. 136 287 0.47 136 136 136 136 78 n/a n/a n/a 1.74 n/a n/a n/a Notes: 1. Other retirement pensions include early retirement pensions due to resignation, national resistance pensions, deputy/ mayor pensions etc. 2. Other family benefits include unprotected child benefit, marriage grant, OAEΔ family allowance etc. 3. Health benefits include pay sick leave, benefit for working accidents, assistance of movement of sick persons, benefit for spa therapy, airing etc. 4. EUROMOD estimates include only disability pension recipients below 65, while administrative data include all disability pension recipients (irrespective of age). 5. Minor social assistance benefits include emergency social help, special allowance for released prisoners/ repatriated Greeks/ drug addicts/ alcoholics, benefit for households in less favoured areas etc. Sources: Own elaboration of data derived from various administrative sources.


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4.1.2 Validation of outputted (simulated) incomes

In Tables 4.7 and 4.8 simulated benefits, taxes and social insurance contributions are validated separately with respect to recipient and payer numbers, followed by a comparison of figures on aggregate expenditure. Expenditure estimates are generally in line with the estimates of recipient numbers and are thus not commented.

Taking into account the latest available official data on the number of pensioners’ social solidarity benefit recipients (388,418 persons in 2006), EUROMOD seems to underestimate the number of recipients in 2007-2011. This benefit is highly underestimated in the original EU-SILC dataset as well. Given that the benefit is income-tested, the discrepancy between EUROMOD and administrative figures could be attributed to targeting errors. If this is the case, it would appear that pensioners’ social solidarity benefit suffers from “leakages” (award of benefit to illegitimate recipients).

The number of social pension recipients is also underestimated both by EUROMOD and by the EU-SILC dataset. It is very likely that this discrepancy is due to the fact that social pension recipients are falsely registered as ΟΓΑ basic pension recipients in the original dataset.

Generally speaking, over/underestimation of income-tested benefits may be partly due to the way the income test for access to benefits is interpreted in the model vs. administrative practice. In real life, assessment of applications to income-tested benefits is based on tax returns from the year before the application for incomes earned two years before the application. Since information on past incomes is not incorporated in EUROMOD, the income conditions are treated as if they referred to incomes earned in the application year.

Regarding family benefits, EUROMOD underestimates the recipients of 3rd child benefit, large family benefit and lump sum €2,000 birth grant. Since all of them are universal benefits, their underestimation has to be attributed to the dataset’s misrepresentation of such benefit-deserving households. The model estimates with a satisfactory degree of accuracy the recipients of income support to families with children in compulsory education and unemployment assistance for older workers, the latter only until the beginning of the crisis.

EUROMOD seems to underestimate the number of recipients of unemployment insurance by a substantial margin. Unemployment insurance benefit has complex eligibility conditions which can be only partly simulated with EUROMOD and hence the simulations have been partly tied to observed receipt which itself is much underreported.

As far as simulated taxes are concerned, comparisons between EUROMOD and administrative figures on personal income tax must be handled with care, as tax evasion in Greece is known to be rife.9 The model overestimates both the number of taxpayers and the amount of tax receipts collected.

Moving to the number of contributors and total receipts collected on simulated social contributions, EUROMOD estimates correctly the number of employees and farmers, overestimates the number of civil servants and banking employees (the latter by a very significant margin) while it underestimates number of contributors in all other categories. Discrepancies may be attributed to a combination of sampling error and reporting error in the underlying database. They may also be partly attributed to the way contributors were identified in EUROMOD as “old” and new” or as working in hazardous occupations. Regarding receipts

9 Matsaganis & Flevotomou (2010) estimated that in 2004 personal income tax receipts in the absence of tax evasion would have been 35% higher.


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collected, we also observe a similar disparity between administrative data and EUROMOD estimates. On the whole, however, differences seem to cancel each other out almost in total.


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Table 4.7 Simulated taxes and benefits-Number of payers and recipients

EUROMOD (I)

Original data (II)

Ratio (I/II) External source (III) Ratio (I/III)

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2007

2007

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Benefits (b.) Retirement pensions - benefits Social pension 39,615 45,614 46,324 54,492 56,220 2,514 15.76 65,963 66,838 69,975 67,961 n/a 0.60 0.68 0.66 0.80 n/a Pensioners’ social solidarity b. 277,103 275,378 303,676 392,022 532,882 148,343 1.87 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Abolishment of 13th and 14th pension and compensations - - - 1,276,346 1,276,346 - - - - - n/a n/a - - - n/a n/a Lump-sum b. to civil servants - - 128,775 - - - - - - n//a - - - - n/a - - Lump-sum b. to low paid pensioners - - - - 100,652 - - - - - n/a - - - - n/a - Family benefits Large family b. 40,496 100,614 100,614 100,614 100,614 32,141 1.26 83,581 236,447 259,128 251,903 n/a 0.48 0.43 0.39 0.40 n/a 3rd child b. 33,386 33,386 33,386 33,386 33,386 26,734 1.25 55,370 54,011 58,787 61,731 n/a 0.60 0.62 0.57 0.54 n/a Income support to families with children in compulsory education 18,357 17,680 17,680 17,680 17,902 2,509 7.32 25,289 17,168 n/a n/a n/a 0.73 1.03 n/a n/a n/a Lump sum €2,000 birth grant 6,543 6,543 6,543 6,543 6,543 n/a n/a 14,608 10,537 18,443 16,421 n/a 0.45 0.62 0.35 0.40 n/a Unemployment benefits Unempl. insurance 142,970 142,970 142,970 142,970 142,970 142,970 1.00 297,038 245,017 n/a n/a n/a 0.48 0.58 n/a n/a n/a Unempl. assistance for older workers 904 904 904 904 904 750 1.21 913 733 n/a 1,850 n/a 0.99 1.23 n/a 0.45 n/a Other benefits Lump-sum - - 1,360,388 - - - - - - n/a - - - - n/a - -


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EUROMOD (I)

Original data (II)

Ratio (I/II) External source (III) Ratio (I/III)

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2007

2007

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

heating b. Taxes Personal income tax 2,947,916 3,115,593 3,214,783 2,879,493 4,949,593 n/a n/a 2,631,946 2,347,649 n/a n/a n/a 1.12 1.33 n/a n/a n/a Withholding tax on b. 244,705 277,877 277,877 277,877 277,877 n/a n/a 321,866 468,289 468,289 n/a n/a 0.76 0.59 0.59 n/a n/a Interest income tax 332,157 332,157 332,157 332,157 332,157 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Additional tax on rental income 449,470 460,552 467,813 447,528 597,633 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1% extraordinary contribution - - - 18,547 - - - - - - n/a - - - - n/a - Solidarity contribution - - - 3,172,603 2,919,275 - - - - - n/a n/a - - - n/a n/a Social insurance contributions Private sector employees 2,099,225 2,099,225 2,099,225 2,099,225 2,099,225 n/a n/a 2,049,879

2,222,347

n/a n/a n/a 1.02

0.99

n/a n/a n/a Public enterprise workers 65,165 65,165 65,165 65,165 65,165 n/a n/a 61,931 n/a n/a n/a 1.05 n/a n/a n/a Banking employees 27,800 27,800 27,800 27,800 27,800 n/a n/a 15,369 n/a n/a n/a 1.81 n/a n/a n/a Civil servants 607,533 607,533 607,533 607,533 607,533 n/a n/a 443,031 445,826 n/a n/a n/a 1.37 1.36 n/a n/a n/a Liberal prof. 209,704 209,704 209,704 209,704 209,704 n/a n/a 274,694 261,330 n/a n/a n/a 0.67 0.80 n/a n/a n/a Own-account workers / self-employed 673,555 673,555 673,555 673,555 673,555 n/a n/a 813,927 848,916 n/a n/a n/a 0.83 0.79 n/a n/a n/a Farmers 732,261 732,261 732,261 732,261 732,261 n/a n/a 715,000 725,000 n/a n/a n/a 1.02 1.01 n/a n/a n/a Pensioners 2,363,105 2,363,105 2,363,105 2,363,105 2,363,105 n/a n/a 3,649,107 3,847,278 n/a n/a n/a 0.65 0.61 n/a n/a n/a Employer contrib. 2,099,225 2,099,225 2,099,225 2,099,225 2,099,225 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Notes: 1. The number of recipients of pensioners’ social solidarity benefit rises significantly since 2011 due to the fact that an extra category of recipients was added that year. 2. The number of recipients of large family benefit rises significantly since 2008 due to the fact that from that year the benefit is also provided to mothers of three children. 3. Personal income tax payers: persons paying non-zero income tax. 4. Since 2009 administrative data on private sector workers, banking employees and public enterprise workers are reported together.


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5. The number of pensioners’ social insurance contributors includes both main and supplementary pension recipients. Note that administrative data refer to number of pensions, not pensioners. Since some pensioners receive more than one pension, administrative data overstate the real number of pensioners. Sources: Own elaboration of data derived from various administrative sources.

Table 4.8 Simulated taxes and benefits- Aggregate amounts

EUROMOD (I) Original data (II)

Ratio (I/II)

External source (III) Ratio (I/III)

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Benefits (b.) Retirement pensions - benefits Social pension 154 211 214 275 284 8 19.25 277 330 360 384 n/a 0.56 0.64 0.59 0.72 n/a Pensioners’ social solidarity b. 688 811 894 960 1,073 348 1.98 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Abolishment of 13th and 14th pension and compensations - - - 997 997 - - - - - n/a n/a - - - n/a n/a Lump-sum b. to civil servants - - 53 - - - - - - n//a - - - - n/a - - Lump-sum b. to low paid pensioners - - - - 26 - - - - - - n/a - - - - n/a Family benefits Large family b. 74 144 146 150 148 66 1.12 135 342 399 395 n/a 0.55 0.42 0.37 0.38 n/a 3rd child b. 66 69 70 72 71 51 1.29 106 119 133 141 n/a 0.62 0.58 0.53 0.51 n/a Income support to families with children in compulsory education 7 7 7 7 7 4 1.75 8 6 n/a n/a n/a 0.88 1.17 n/a n/a n/a Lump sum €2,000 birth grant 13 13 13 13 13 n/a n/a 30 21 37 33 n/a 0.23 0.33 0.19 0.21 n/a Unemployment benefits Unempl. Insurance 341 375 422 422 422 324 1.05 642 669 n/a n/a n/a 0.53 0.56 n/a n/a n/a


80


Ratio (I/II)


2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Unempl. assistance for older workers 2 2 2 2 2 2 1.00 2 2 n/a n/a n/a 1.00 1.00 n/a n/a n/a Other benefits Lump-sum heating b. - - 204 - - - - - - n/a - - - - n/a - - Taxes Personal income tax 11,920 12,509 12,561 10,644 13,988 n/a n/a 9,768 9,122 n/a n/a n/a 1.22 1.37 n/a n/a n/a Withholding tax on b. 4 5 5 5 5 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Interest income tax 25 28 27 29 31 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Additional tax on rental income 37 39 41 41 49 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1% extraordinary contribution - - - 25 - - - - - - n/a - - - - n/a - Solidarity contribution - - - 1,160 997 - - - - - n/a n/a - - - n/a n/a Social insurance contributions Private sector employees 3,862 4,094 4,205 4,099 4,038 n/a n/a 4,221 4,683

5,720 n/a n/a

0.91 0.87

0.88 n/a n/a

Primary pension

3,078 3,264 3,352 3,268 3,220 n/a n/a 2,218 2,491

1.04 0.94 Supplementary pension n/a n/a 735 796 Sickness insurance 783 830 852 831 819 n/a n/a 1,268 1,396 0.62 0.56

Public enterprise workers 526 570 613 580 544 n/a n/a 559 548 0.96 1.04

Primary pension 310 336 362 342 321 n/a n/a 234 233 1.04 1.12


81


Ratio (I/II)


2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Supplementary pension n/a n/a 62 66 Sickness insurance 59 64 69 65 61 n/a n/a 145 126 0.41 0.51 Additional benefits 157 170 183 173 162 n/a n/a 118 123 1.25 1.38

Banking employees 195 195 202 199 192 n/a n/a 161 170 1.21 1.15

Primary pension 121 121 125 123 119 n/a n/a 66 69 1.24 1.27 Supplementary pension n/a n/a 31 26 Sickness insurance 23 23 23 23 22 n/a n/a 39 49 0.58 0.46 Additional benefits 52 52 54 53 51 n/a n/a 25 26 2.08 2.00

Civil servants 2,898 3,104 3,266 2,939 3,170 n/a n/a 1,685 1,877 n/a n/a n/a 1.72 1.65 n/a n/a n/a Primary pension 1,933 2,071 2,179 1,961 1,902 n/a n/a 753 864 n/a n/a n/a 1.96 1.71 n/a n/a n/a Supplementary pension n/a n/a 232 264 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Lump sum pension 414 443 466 419 407 n/a n/a 302 335 355 n/a n/a 1.37 1.23 1.31 n/a n/a Other benefits 551 591 621 559 861 n/a n/a 398 414 390 n/a n/a 1.39 1.33 1.59 n/a n/a

Liberal professions 634 669 679 671 673 n/a n/a 924 974 1,025 n/a n/a 0.69 0.69 0.65 n/a n/a

Primary pension 372 393 396 394 393 n/a n/a 720 709 715 n/a n/a 0.52 0.55 0.55 n/a n/a Sickness insurance 199 209 215 210 208 n/a n/a 127 145 190 n/a n/a 1.57 1.44 1.13 n/a n/a Additional benefits 63 67 68 67 72 n/a n/a 77 120 120 n/a n/a 0.82 0.55 0.57 n/a n/a

Own-account workers / self-employed 2,062 2,245 2,358 2,358 2,358 n/a n/a 2,543 2,578 2,555 n/a n/a 0.81 0.87 0.92 n/a n/a


82


Ratio (I/II)


2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Primary pension 1,539 1,664 1,768 1,768 1,768 n/a n/a 1,909 1,909 1,921 n/a n/a 0.81 0.87 0.92 n/a n/a Sickness insurance 523 581 590 590 590 n/a n/a 634 669 634 n/a n/a 0.82 0.87 0.93 n/a n/a

Farmers 366 381 401 401 401 n/a n/a 512 557 619 n/a n/a 0.72 0.68 0.65 n/a n/a Pension insurance 288 300 316 316 316 n/a n/a 262 272 324 n/a n/a 1.10 1.06 0.98 n/a n/a Sickness insurance 62 64 68 68 68 n/a n/a 234 269 280 n/a n/a 0.26 0.23 0.24 n/a n/a Additional benefits 17 17 17 17 17 n/a n/a 16 16 15 n/a n/a 1.05 1.05 1.13 n/a n/a

TOTAL 10,543 11,257 11,724 n/a n/a n/a n/a 10,605 11,387 11,097 n/a n/a 0.99 0.99 1.06 n/a n/a Pensioners 1,034 1,071 1,074 967 972 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Employer contrib. 8,682 9,205 9,453 9,215 9,079 n/a n/a 11,213 n/a 10,040 n/a n/a 0.77 n/a 0.94 n/a n/a Notes: 1. Expenditure for large family benefit rises significantly since 2008 due to the fact that from that year the benefit is also provided to mothers of three children. 2. The significant difference in the receipts collected from withholding tax on benefits is due to the fact that the 10% withholding tax on ΟΓΑ large family benefits was abolished in 2007. The 1.2% stamp duty remained. 3. Since 2009 administrative data on private sector workers, banking employees and public enterprise workers are reported together. 4. Social insurance contributions collected for ΟΑΕΔ, ΟΕΚ, ΟΕΕ and ΟΠΑΔ are not included due to lack of availability of administrative data and hence also corresponding simulated components have been omitted. Therefore, the total amounts only reflect the sum of components included in the table and not the aggregate amount of all employee and self-employed social insurance contributions. Sources: Own elaboration of data derived from various administrative sources.

4.2 Income distribution

All income distribution results presented here are computed for individuals according to their household disposable income (HDI) equivalised by the “modified OECD” equivalence scale. HDI are calculated as the sum of all income sources of all household members net of income tax and social insurance contributions. The weights in the OECD equivalence are: first adult=1; additional people aged 14+ = 0.5; additional people aged under 14 = 0.3.


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4.2.1 Income inequality

As a whole, EUROMOD estimates on income inequality seem to be in line with the external source estimates. Note that there are no external data available for years 2010 and 2011.

Table 4.9 Income distribution

Indicator EUROMOD (I) External Source (II) Ratio (I/II) 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Decile shares 1 2.40 2.38 2.41 2.38 2.37 2.72 2.40 2.06 n/a n/a 0.88 0.99 1.17 n/a n/a 2 4.51 4.47 4.39 4.44 4.59 4.48 4.60 4.60 n/a n/a 1.01 0.97 0.95 n/a n/a 3 5.68 5.62 5.55 5.66 5.75 5.80 5.90 5.70 n/a n/a 0.98 0.95 0.97 n/a n/a 4 6.87 6.78 6.74 6.87 7.00 6.79 6.90 6.90 n/a n/a 1.01 0.98 0.98 n/a n/a 5 7.96 7.90 7.86 7.97 8.01 8.04 8.00 7.90 n/a n/a 0.99 0.99 0.99 n/a n/a 6 9.15 9.14 9.12 9.20 9.23 9.24 9.10 9.30 n/a n/a 0.99 1.00 0.98 n/a n/a 7 10.59 10.58 10.47 10.60 10.54 10.89 10.50 10.60 n/a n/a 0.97 1.01 0.99 n/a n/a 8 12.44 12.41 12.42 12.50 12.36 12.53 12.20 12.20 n/a n/a 0.99 1.02 1.02 n/a n/a 9 15.28 15.31 15.40 15.37 15.20 15.14 15.00 14.80 n/a n/a 1.01 1.02 1.04 n/a n/a 10 25.12 25.42 25.65 25.01 24.95 24.38 25.40 25.40 n/a n/a 1.03 1.00 1.01 n/a n/a Median 926.57 970.43 1,001.64 952.27 898.54 900.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.03 n/a n/a n/a n/a Mean 1,086.15 1,143.12 1,183.77 1,117.45 1,051.23 1,066.08 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.02 n/a n/a n/a n/a Gini 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 n/a n/a 1.03 1.03 1.03 n/a n/a S80/S20 5.84 5.95 6.03 5.92 5.72 5.69 5.80 5.60 n/a n/a 1.03 1.03 1.08 n/a n/a Notes: Based on household disposable income (HDI) equivalised by the “modified OECD” equivalence scale. HDI are calculated as the sum of all income sources of all household members net of income tax and social insurance contributions; computed at the individual level. Sources: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu

4.2.2 Poverty rates

As a whole, EUROMOD estimates on poverty seem to be in line with the external source estimates. With the poverty line set at 60% of median HDI, poverty rates (as estimated by EUROMOD) rise from 19.9% in 2007 to 21.2% in 2009. Since 2010 they start going down, reaching 19.7% in 2011. This is due to the fall of median HDI, caused by the financial crisis that shakes the country since 2010. Note that, again, there are no external data available for years 2010 and 2011.


84

Table 4.10 At risk of poverty rates by gender and age

Indicator EUROMOD (I) External Source (II) Ratio (I/II) 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 40% median HDI Total 7.20 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.00 6.70 6.60 7.30 n/a n/a 1.07 1.14 1.03 n/a n/a Males 6.70 7.00 7.00 7.10 6.60 6.60 6.40 7.00 n/a n/a 1.02 1.09 1.00 n/a n/a Females 7.70 8.00 8.00 8.00 7.40 6.80 6.60 7.70 n/a n/a 1.13 1.21 1.04 n/a n/a 50% median HDI Total 12.80 13.00 13.20 13.40 12.50 12.70 12.20 12.40 n/a n/a 1.01 1.07 1.06 n/a n/a Males 12.00 12.30 12.40 12.60 11.90 12.40 11.80 11.90 n/a n/a 0.97 1.04 1.04 n/a n/a Females 13.60 13.70 13.90 14.10 13.00 13.00 12.70 12.90 n/a n/a 1.05 1.08 1.08 n/a n/a 60% median HDI Total 19.90 20.40 21.10 20.80 19.80 20.10 19.70 20.10 n/a n/a 0.99 1.04 1.05 n/a n/a Males 19.00 19.60 20.40 20.20 19.10 19.60 19.10 19.30 n/a n/a 0.97 1.03 1.06 n/a n/a Females 20.80 21.10 21.80 21.50 20.50 20.70 20.20 20.90 n/a n/a 1.00 1.04 1.04 n/a n/a 70% median HDI Total 27.50 27.70 28.30 27.30 26.90 26.90 25.40 27.20 n/a n/a 1.02 1.09 1.04 n/a n/a Males 26.70 27.00 27.50 26.60 26.30 26.40 24.60 26.30 n/a n/a 1.01 1.10 1.05 n/a n/a Females 28.20 28.50 29.10 28.00 27.50 27.50 26.20 28.20 n/a n/a 1.03 1.09 1.03 n/a n/a 60% median HDI 0-15 years 22.10 22.60 22.90 23.10 23.00 22.70 23.60 22.30 n/a n/a 0.97 0.96 1.03 n/a n/a 16-24 years 29.80 29.40 30.00 29.40 29.00 23.60 23.00 27.80 n/a n/a 1.26 1.28 1.08 n/a n/a 25-49 years 17.10 17.50 18.00 17.80 17.60 17.90 17.90 18.10 n/a n/a 0.96 0.98 0.99 n/a n/a 50-64 years 17.10 17.70 19.00 18.40 17.00 18.50 16.80 17.30 n/a n/a 0.92 1.05 1.10 n/a n/a 65+ years 21.10 22.20 23.50 23.10 19.70 22.30 21.40 21.30 n/a n/a 0.95 1.04 1.10 n/a n/a Notes: Computed for individuals according to their household disposable income (HDI) equivalised by the “modified OECD” equivalence scale. HDI are calculated as the sum of all income sources of all household members net of income tax and social insurance contributions. Sources: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu


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4.2.3 Validation of minimum wage

In this section we give a brief overview what is the impact of minimum wage policy, if switched on. In our baseline scenario the minimum wage policy is switched off.

As we can see in Table 4.11, the introduction of minimum wage increases disposable income and employee gross earnings by 0.7% and 1.2% respectively. Personal income tax and employees SIC are also increased by approximately 0.3% and 0.6% respectively. The Gini index falls by 1.2% on average whereas poverty rates fall by approximately 0.2 percentage points.

Table 4.11 Impact of minimum wage

Baseline (I) Minimum wage included (II) Ratio (I/II) 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Disposable income 92,773 97,608 101,038 95,378 89,819 93,301 98,130 101,685 96,107 90,541 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 Gross employee earnings 58,781 62,670 65,050 61,708 60,287 59,380 63,263 65,790 62,539 61,172 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 Income tax 11,920 12,509 12,561 10,644 13,988 11,942 12,531 12,587 10,667 14,068 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.99 Employee SICs 10,047 10,658 11,027 10,408 10,518 10,096 10,705 11,089 10,479 10,593 1.00 1.00 0.99 0.99 0.99 Gini (Eq HDI) 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.33 1.03 1.00 1.00 1.03 1.00 At poverty risk[a] 19.90 20.40 21.10 20.80 19.80 19.60 20.11 20.83 20.74 19.59 1.02 1.01 1.01 1.00 1.01 Notes: [a] 60% of median equivalised HDI.


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4.2.4 Validation of modelling annual policies

In this section we give a brief overview what is the impact of modelling annual policies instead of following the rule according to which all policies are simulated the way they are in 30th June of each respective year. This validation was considered as important because since 2010 the implementation of a number of policies took place after 30th June. More precisely, pensioners’ solidarity contribution was introduced in 2010 after 30th June (see section 2.10). The 2011 policies implemented after 30th June were additional pensioners’ solidarity contribution (see section 2.11) and pensioners’ solidarity contribution for supplementary pensions (see section 2.12). Moreover, in August 2011, the rates for pensioners’ solidarity contribution changed (they now vary from 3% to 14%), there was a 0.5% increase in employees’ and employers’ social insurance contributions for unemployment insurance and the introduction of a social insurance contribution for unemployment insurance for self-employed workers (€10 per month). In our baseline scenario the policy that models annual tax and benefit rules is switched off.

As we can see in Table 4.12, modelling annual policies decreases disposable income by approximately 0.2%. On the other hand, total tax receipts are increased by approximately 0.8%. Finally, poverty rates fall by approximately 0.1 percentage points.

Table 4.12 Impact of modelling annual policies

Baseline (I) Annual policies included (II)

Ratio (I/II)

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 Disposable income 95,378 89,819 95,250 89,638 1.00 1.00 Sum of taxes 12,164 15,769 12,292 15,849 0.99 0.99 At poverty risk[a] 20.80 19.80 20.83 19.87 1.00 1.00 Notes: [a] 60% of median equivalised HDI.

4.3 Summary of “health warnings”

As the Greek social insurance system is highly fragmented and official data are scattered over various administrative sources a degree of caution is advisable when interpreting validation results on social contributions.

Moreover, comparisons between EUROMOD and administrative figures on personal income tax have to take into serious consideration the existence of tax evasion as well as the lack of adequate information for the simulation of a number of tax allowances and deductions.

Finally, the underlying dataset’s misrepresentation of some population groups (such as recipients of large family benefit, unemployment insurance benefit, disability benefits, banking employees, liberal professionals, farmers etc) has to be taken into account when trying to interpret EUROMOD’s results.


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5. REFERENCES

Bank of Greece (2011) “Fiscal policy 2011, Interim Report”

Bank of Greece (2011) “Governor’s 2010 Annual Report”

Budget spending bulletins (2005-2011)

European Social Charter (2009) “19th Greek Report”

Eurostat (2010) “Comparative Intermediate EU Quality Report 2008”, version 3

Eurostat (2010) “Taxation trends in the EU”, Annex A

Eurostat (on line database)

Hellenic Statistical Authority (statistical indices)

Leventi C., Matsaganis M., Mitrakos T. and Tsakloglou P. (2009) "Poverty targeting and the design of policies towards groups at high risk of social exclusion", Report submitted to the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Athens (in Greek)

Leventi C., Matsaganis M. and Tsakloglou P. (2010) "Greece 2005-2008”, EUROMOD Country Report, University of Essex.

Matsaganis M., Levy, O., Flevotomou M. (2010) “Non-take up of social benefits in Greece and Spain”, Social Policy and Administration 44 (7) pp. 827-844

Matsaganis M., Flevotomou M. (2010) “Distributional implications of tax evasion in Greece”, GreeSE Paper 31, Hellenic Observatory, London School of Economics (http://www.lse.ac.uk/ collections/hellenicObservatory/pdf/GreeSE/GreeSE31.pdf)

National Strategy Reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion (2005-2006, 2008-2010)

Social Budget (2005-2009)

ΙΝΕ-ΓΣΕΕ Journal (2002) “The salaries of civil servants in EU countries”, issue 79

IKA annual statistical reports (2005-2006)

ΟΓΑ annual statistical reports (2005-2010)

• Sources for tax-benefit descriptions/rules

Sites of various social insurance funds and benefit agencies:

www.ika.gr

www.oaee.gr

www.oaed.gr

www.oek.gr

www.oga.gr

www.tapote.gr

www.tsay.gr


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6. ANNEX

6.1 TEBE social contributions simulated

Table 6.1 TEBE social contributions simulated (2005, € per year) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total A 504 732 1,236 B 720 732 1,452 C 936 732 1,668 D 1,152 732 1,884 E 1,524 732 2,256 F 1,752 732 2,484 G 2,148 732 2,880 H 2,640 732 3,372 I 3,984 732 4,716 J 4,860 732 5,592

Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total

1 1,025 560 1,585 2 1,261 689 1,949 3 2,135 817 2,952 4 2,468 944 3,412 5 2,787 1,066 3,853


Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total A 540.00 780.00 1,320.00 B 768.00 780.00 1,548.00 C 996.00 780.00 1,776.00 D 1,224.00 780.00 2,004.00 E 1,620.00 780.00 2,400.00 F 1,860.00 780.00 2,640.00 G 2,280.00 780.00 3,060.00 H 2,796.00 780.00 3,576.00 I 4,224.00 780.00 5,004.00 J 5,148.00 780.00 5,928.00


1 1,066.08 582.48 1,648.56 2 1,311.00 716.40 2,027.40 3 2,220.36 849.24 3,069.60 4 2,566.92 981.84 3,548.76 5 2,898.72 1,108.80 4,007.52


89


Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total 1 1,612.80 780.00 2,392.80 2 1,969.80 780.00 2,749.80 3 2,351.40 780.00 3,131.40 4 2,567.04 780.00 3,347.04 5 2,961.00 780.00 3,741.00 6 3,339.48 780.00 4,119.48 7 3,570.96 780.00 4,350.96 8 3,861.36 780.00 4,641.36 9 4,122.24 780.00 4,902.24

10 4,383.24 780.00 5,163.24 11 4,644.12 780.00 5,424.12 12 4,905.00 780.00 5,685.00 13 5,166.00 780.00 5,946.00 14 5,427.00 780.00 6,207.00


1 1,128.96 616.92 1,745.88 2 1,378.80 753.48 2,132.28 3 2,351.40 899.40 3,250.80 4 2,567.04 981.84 3,548.88 5 2,961.00 1,132.56 4,093.56 6 3,339.48 1,277.40 4,616.88 7 3,570.96 1,365.84 4,936.80 8 3,861.36 1,476.96 5,338.32 9 4,122.24 1,576.80 5,699.04

10 4,383.24 1,676.64 6,059.88 11 4,536.12 1,776.36 6,312.48 12 4,905.00 1,876.20 6,781.20 13 5,166.00 1,976.04 7,142.04 14 5,427.00 2,075.76 7,502.76


90


Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total 1 1,741.44 900.00 2,641.44 2 2,127.36 900.00 3,027.36 3 2,539.44 900.00 3,439.44 4 2,772.36 900.00 3,672.36 5 3,197.88 900.00 4,097.88 6 3,606.72 900.00 4,506.72 7 3,856.68 900.00 4,756.68 8 4,170.24 900.00 5,070.24 9 4,452.00 900.00 5,352.00

10 4,733.88 900.00 5,633.88 11 5,015.64 900.00 5,915.64 12 5,297.40 900.00 6,197.40 13 5,579.28 900.00 6,479.28 14 5,861.16 900.00 6,761.16


1 1,393.44 666.24 2,059.68 2 1,701.84 813.72 2,515.56 3 2,539.44 971.28 3,510.72 4 2,772.36 1,060.44 3,832.80 5 3,197.88 1,223.16 4,421.04 6 3,606.72 1,379.52 4,986.24 7 3,856.68 1,475.16 5,331.84 8 4,170.24 1,595.16 5,765.40 9 4,452.00 1,702.92 6,154.92

10 4,733.88 1,810.68 6,544.56 11 5,015.64 1,918.44 6,934.08 12 5,297.40 2,026.20 7,323.60 13 5,579.28 2,134.08 7,713.36 14 5,861.16 2,241.84 8,103.00

Table 6.5 TEBE social contributions simulated (2009-11, € per year) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total 1 1,828.92 900.00 2,728.92 2 2,233.68 900.00 3,133.68 3 2,666.40 900.00 3,566.40 4 2,910.96 900.00 3,810.96 5 3,357.72 900.00 4,257.72 6 3,787.08 900.00 4,687.08 7 4,049.52 900.00 4,949.52


91

8 4,378.80 900.00 5,278.80 9 4,674.60 900.00 5,574.60

10 4,970.64 900.00 5,870.64 11 5,266.44 900.00 6,166.44 12 5,562.24 900.00 6,462.24 13 5,858.28 900.00 6,758.28 14 6,154.20 900.00 7,054.20


1 1,646.04 699.60 2,345.64 2 2,010.36 854.40 2,864.76 3 2,666.40 1,019.88 3,686.28 4 2,910.96 1,113.48 4,024.44 5 3,357.72 1,284.36 4,642.08 6 3,787.08 1,448.52 5,235.60 7 4,049.52 1,548.96 5,598.48 8 4,378.80 1,694.84 6,073.64 9 4,674.60 1,788.00 6,462.60

10 4,970.64 1,901.28 6,871.92 11 5,266.44 2,014.44 7,280.88 12 5,562.24 2,127.60 7,689.84 13 5,858.28 2,240.76 8,099.04 14 6,154.20 2,353.92 8,508.12

Note: Since August 2011 all TEBE contributors pay and additional amount of €10 per month for unemployment insurance.

6.2 TAE social contributions simulated

Table 6.6 TAE social contributions simulated (2005, € per year) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total E 2,292 732 3,024 F 3,180 732 3,912 G 3,540 732 4,272


1 1,464 564 2,028 2 1,800 684 2,484 3 2,136 816 2,952 4 2,472 948 3,420 5 2,784 1,068 3,852


Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total A 852 780 1,632 B 1,188 780 1,968


92

C 1,560 780 2,340 D 1,992 780 2,772 E 2,424 780 3,204 F 3,372 780 4,152 G 3,756 780 4,536


1 1,524 588 2,112 2 1,872 720 2,592 3 2,220 852 3,072 4 2,568 984 3,552 5 2,904 1,104 4,008 6 3,156 1,212 4,368 7 3,396 1,296 4,692


Same as TEBE (Table 86, case 1) Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime

Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total 1 1,612.80 616.92 2,229.72 2 1,969.80 753.48 2,723.80 3 2,351.40 899.40 3,250.80 4 2,567.04 981.84 3,548.88 5 2,961.00 1,132.56 4,093.56 6 3,339.48 1,277.40 4,616.88 7 3,570.96 1,365.84 4,936.80 8 3,861.36 1,476.96 5,338.32 9 4,122.24 1,576.80 5,699.04

10 4,383.24 1,676.64 6,059.88 11 4,536.12 1,776.36 6,312.48 12 4,905.00 1,876.20 6,781.20 13 5,166.00 1,976.04 7,142.04 14 5,427.00 2,075.76 7,502.76



Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total 1 1,741.80 666.24 2,408.04 2 2,127.36 813.72 2,941.08 3 2,539.44 971.28 3,510.72 4 2,772.36 1,060.44 3,832.80 5 3,197.88 1,223.16 4,421.04 6 3,606.72 1,379.52 4,986.24 7 3,856.68 1,475.16 5,331.84


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8 4,170.24 1,595.16 5,765.40 9 4,452.00 1,702.92 6,154.92

10 4,733.88 1,810.68 6,544.56 11 5,015.64 1,918.44 6,934.08 12 5,297.40 2,026.20 7,323.60 13 5,579.28 2,134.08 7,713.36 14 5,861.16 2,241.84 8,103.00

Table 6.10 TAE social contributions simulated (2009-11, € per year) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime


Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Total 1 1,828.92 699.60 2,528.52 2 2,233.68 854.40 3,088.08 3 2,666.40 1,019.88 3,686.28 4 2,910.96 1,113.48 4,024.44 5 3,357.72 1,284.36 4,642.08 6 3,787.08 1,448.52 5,235.60 7 4,049.52 1,547.96 5,597.48 8 4,378.80 1,674.84 6,053.64 9 4,674.60 1,788.00 6,462.60

10 4,970.64 1,901.28 6,871.92 11 5,266.44 2,014.44 7,280.88 12 5,562.24 2,127.60 7,689.84 13 5,858.28 2,240.76 8,099.04 14 6,154.20 2,353.92 8,508.12

Note: Since August 2011 all TAE contributors pay and additional amount of €10 per month for unemployment insurance.

6.3 TΣΑΥ social contributions simulated

Table 6.11 ΤΣΑΥ social contributions simulated (2005, € per year)

Social insurance contributions (SIC) Contributors first employed before 1 January 1993

Contributors first employed after 1 January 1993

Length of service <5 years >5 years <5 years >5 years Case 1: employees

A. contributions paid as % of reference earnings Primary pension 0.00 0.00 4.00 6.67 Sickness insurance 5.00 5.00 2.55 2.55 Additional benefits 0.00 0.00 4.00 4.00 Total 5.00 5.00 10.55 13.22 B. contributions paid as a lump sum (€ per month)

Primary pension 94.90 158.00 0.00 0.00 Sickness insurance 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88 Additional benefits 2.93 2.93 0.00 0.00 Total 98.71 161.81 0.88 0.88

Case 2: self-employed (€ per month)


94



95





A. contributions paid as % of reference earnings Primary pension 0.00 0.00 4.00 6.67 Sickness insurance 5.00 5.00 2.55 2.55 Additional benefits 0.00 0.00 4.00 4.00 Total 5.00 5.00 10.55 13.22

B. contributions paid as a lump sum (€ per month) Primary pension 100.50 167.50 0.00 0.00 Sickness insurance 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Additional benefits 2.93 2.93 0.00 0.00 Total 105.43 170.43 2.00 2.00

Case 2: self-employed (€ per month) Primary pension 100.50 167.50 76.20 126.90 Sickness insurance 42.90 42.90 42.90 42.90 Additional benefits 2.93 2.93 25.40 25.40 Total 146.33 213.33 144.50 195.20





A. contributions paid as % of reference earnings Primary pension 0.00 0.00 4.00 6.67 Sickness insurance 5.00 5.00 2.55 2.55 Additional benefits 0.00 0.00 4.00 4.00 Total 5.00 5.00 10.55 13.22



Table 6.14 ΤΣΑΥ social contributions simulated (2008-11, € per year)




A. contributions paid as % of reference earnings


96




Note: Since August 2011 all TΣΑΥ self-employed contributors pay and additional amount of €10 per month for unemployment insurance.

6.4 ΟΓΑ social contributions simulated

Table 6.15 OΓΑ social contributions simulated (2005, € per year)

Insurance class Pension insurance Sickness insurance Additional benefits Total

1 310.56 66.60 21.12 398.28 2 384.96 82.56 21.12 488.64 3 463.32 99.24 21.12 583.68 4 571.68 122.52 21.12 715.32 5 680.04 145.68 33.12 857.40 6 787.68 168.84 33.12 988.20 7 894.48 191.64 33.12 1,117.80



1 323.04 69.24 22.08 414.36 2 400.44 85.80 22.08 508.32 3 481.80 103.20 22.08 607.08 4 594.60 127.44 22.08 744.12 5 707.28 151.56 33.12 891.96 6 819.24 175.56 33.12 1,027.92 7 930.24 199.32 33.12 1,162.68



1 336.00 72.00 22.08 430.08 2 416.40 89.28 22.08 527.76 3 501.12 107.40 22.08 630.60 4 618.36 132.48 22.08 772.92


97

5 735.60 157.56 33.12 926.28 6 852.00 182.52 33.12 1,067.64 7 967.56 207.36 33.12 1,208.04



1 349.44 74.88 22.32 446.64 2 433.08 92.76 22.32 548.16 3 521.16 111.72 22.32 655.20 4 643.08 137.76 22.32 803.16 5 765.00 163.92 33.48 962.40 6 886.08 189.84 33.48 1,109.40 7 1,006.20 215.64 33.48 1,255.32

Table 6.19 OΓΑ social contributions simulated (2009-11, € per year)


1 367.08 78.60 23.04 468.72 2 455.04 97.44 23.04 575.52 3 547.44 117.36 23.04 687.84 4 675.60 144.72 23.04 843.36 5 803.64 172.20 34.56 1,010.40 6 930.84 199.44 34.56 1,164.84 7 1,057.08 226.56 34.56 1,318.20

6.5 2005-08 distributions of self-employed contributors

Table 6.20 Distribution of TEBE contributors by insurance class (2005) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % A 3 0.0 B 0 0.0 C 38 0.0 D 64 0.0 E 14,514 2.6 F 68,107 12.0 G 54,513 9.6 H 233,649 41.1 I 2,529 0.4 J 11,804 2.1

Total “old” regime 385,221 67.8 Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % 1 58,282 10.3 2 41,304 7.3


98

3 30,764 5.4 4 22,528 4.0 5 30,098 5.3

Total “new” regime 182,976 32.2 Total TEBE 568,197 100.0

Table 6.21 Distribution of TEBE contributors by insurance class (2006) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % A 4 0 B 0 0 C 42 0 D 74 0 E 21,112 5 F 63,834 17 G 52,810 14 H 226,077 60 I 2,587 1 J 12,324 3

Total “old” regime 378,864 100 Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % 1 84,287 39 2 44,452 20 3 32,316 15 4 23,774 11 5 33,599 15 6 36 0 7 27 0 8 19 0 9 8 0 10 24 0 11 7 0 12 5 0 13 1 0 14 59 0

Total “new” regime 218,614 100 Note: For contributors to the “new” regime insurance classes 1-5 are compulsory and 6-14 optional.

Table 6.22 Distribution of TAE contributors by insurance class (2004[a]) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % E 165,902 73.5 F 1,169 0.5 G 16,509 7.3

Total “old” regime 183,580 81.3 Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime


99

Insurance class No. of contributors % 1 12,043 5.3 2 9,580 4.2 3 8,533 3.8 4 7,374 3.3 5 4,623 2.0

Total “new” regime 42,153 18.7 Total TAE 225,733 100.0

Notes: [a] No data available for TAE’s 2005-06 distributions. Hence, 2004 data were used for the 2005-06 allocation of other self-employed workers to insurance classes.

Table 6.23 Distribution of OAEE contributors by insurance class (2007-2008) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

2007 2008 Insurance

class No. of contributors % No. of contributors %

1 22,938 5 39,631 8 2 58,276 12 55,328 11 3 49,492 10 47,354 10 4 64,328 13 62,141 13 5 271,721 55 256,428 53 6 27 0 106 0 7 666 0 703 0 8 11,984 2 10,674 2 9 26 0 65 0

10 2,445 0 2,241 0 11 41 0 112 0 12 24 0 82 0 13 22 0 46 0 14 12,972 3 13,189 3

Total ΟΑΕΕ 494,962 100 488,100 100

Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime 2007 2008

Insurance class No. of contributors % No. of contributors %

1 145,039 47 176,458 53 2 55,746 18 53,116 16 3 40,996 13 39,212 12 4 27,566 9 26,536 8 5 40,942 13 39,412 12 6 84 0 91 0 7 46 0 53 0 8 30 0 44 0 9 20 0 21 0

10 46 0 64 0 11 16 0 19 0 12 8 0 7 0


100

13 2 0 3 0 14 112 0 134 0

Total ΟΑΕΕ 310,653 100 335,170 100 Note: From 2007 (when insurance classes were harmonised for all OAEE members) there are no separate data for TEBE and TAE contributors.

Table 6.24 Distribution of TEBE contributors by insurance class (2009-2011) Case 1: contributors to the “old” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % 1 44,945 10 2 53,148 11 3 45,611 10 4 59,881 13 5 243,572 51 6 254 0 7 711 0 8 9,804 2 9 104 0 10 2,114 0 11 133 0 12 110 0 13 49 0 14 12,584 3

Total OAEE 473,020 100 Case 2: contributors to the “new” regime

Insurance class No. of contributors % 1 196,815 56 2 51,283 15 3 37,925 11 4 25,654 7 5 38,074 11 6 102 0 7 67 0 8 42 0 9 21 0 10 64 0 11 18 0 12 7 0 13 3 0 14 152 0

Total “new” regime 350,227 100


101

Table 6.25 Distribution of OΓA contributors by insurance class (2005) 2005

Insurance class No. of contributors % 1 583,515 81.3 2 34,381 4.8 3 34,666 4.8 4 19,308 2.7 5 10,249 1.4 6 2,993 0.4 7 32,666 4.6

Total ΟΓΑ 717,778 100.0

Table 6.26 Distribution of ΟΓΑ contributors by insurance class (2006-2007) 2006 2007

Insurance class

No. of contributors % No. of contributors %

1 589,501 81.8 585,215 81.9 2 32,442 4.5 30,889 4.3 3 32,955 5.6 31,720 4.4 4 18,876 2.6 18,487 2.6 5 10,286 1.4 10,507 1.5 6 2,937 0.4 2,891 0.4 7 33,818 4.7 34,917 4.9

Total ΟΓΑ 720,815 100.0 714,626 100.0

Table 6.27 Distribution of ΟΓΑ contributors by insurance class (2008-2011) 2008 2009

Insurance class

No. of contributors % No. of contributors %

1 594,872 82.1 567,407 81.6 2 29,374 4.1 26,689 3.8 3 30,724 4.2 28,781 4.1 4 18,432 2.5 17,849 2.6 5 11,336 1.6 12,304 1.8 6 3,066 0.4 3,218 0.5 7 36,989 5.1 39,190 5.6

Total ΟΓΑ 724,792 100.0 695,438 100.0

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